In order to make sure that the appliances in your home are working properly, regular maintenance is vital. The HVAC unit in your home is one of the most important appliances you have, especially if you live in the state of Arizona. The most important thing that you can do to take care of your HVAC unit and ensure its longevity is to change the air filters on a regular basis.
Changing the air filter in your air conditioner can help ensure that the unit works properly, without increasing your electricity bills. Although changing an HVAC system’s air filter is a simple task, it is a task that people forget to do for months. Some homeowners do not even bother changing the air filters and wonder what went wrong when their units stop proper cooling. If you do not change your HVAC system’s air filter regularly, it does not only make the air conditioner less efficient, it also leads to higher electricity bills because your unit is working a lot harder to provide proper airflow. An overworked HVAC unit can also result in higher maintenance costs, which can easily be avoided.
The question that a lot of people ask is how often you really need to change the air filter in your HVAC system. Here is a look at some basic factors that can help you decide how often you should change the air filters.
General Recommendations You Need To Consider
As per rule of thumb, based on what the manufacturers recommend, it is a good idea to change the air filters in your air conditioner after every 30 days of use. This is especially true if you are using the less expensive fiber glass air filters in your unit. If you are using the pleated filters of high-end variety, they can do an effective job of filtering the air without airflow disruption for up to 6 months. The problem with these general recommendations is that they are based on average usage. The actual use of the air conditioning unit can make a big difference.
Ideally, you should change pleated air filters after 90 days of use. The thing with air filters in HVAC units is that they are there to collect dirt and dust and improve indoor air quality. The longer an air filter is in use, the more airborne dust and dirt it collects while keeping the air clean. Overtime, the air filter starts to become more and more clogged. That is why its efficiency eventually decreases. Air filters are also help remove allergens from the air. Therefore, it is crucial to check and change your HVAC system’s air filters on a regular basis.
Air quality has a significant effect on people with asthma. While there is nothing that can be done about the air quality outside, your HVAC unit can improve the indoor air quality. If you or someone you know is suffering from allergies or asthma, airborne particles can cause a lot of problems. If someone in your home suffers from breathing problems, it is recommended that you change the air filters of your HVAC unit every 6 weeks to ensure the best possible indoor air quality.
If you have pets at home, you know how bad the molting and shedding situation can get every time winters pass and the hot summer months arrive. It is vital to change the air filters every two months if you have pets at home because the fur that they shed can clog the air filters and decrease air quality.
Factors That Affect HVAC System’s Air Filter Lifespan
The lifespan of an air filter can be affected by a number of factors. You should keep these things in mind when determining how often you should change the air filters in your HVAC unit.
The Size Of Your House
If your home is small, your HVAC unit needs to pump a lot less air to maintain the temperature settings it has been programmed for. This means that an HVAC unit installed in a smaller home needs to be changed less often than the air filters for an HVAC unit installed in a bigger home.
How Often You Need To Use Your HVAC Unit
The amount of use of the HVAC unit also affects the time after which its air filter may become inefficient and require replacement. If you happen to live in any city in Arizona, you will know that the summers can get pretty hot. There will even come a time of the year where you will not want to turn off the air conditioning unit. The more that your HVAC is on, the more air it will filter, the more dust it will accumulate. Therefore, you may need to change the air filter more often than if you were living in a moderate climate and you’re not really using the HVAC system all that much.
Can’t Tell If Your HVAC Air Filter Needs Replacement?
If you are not exactly sure about how often you need to change the air filter inside your HVAC unit or if you do not know how to go about it, you don’t need to worry. At Mesa Plumbing, we are here for you. Just contact us through our website at https://mesaplumbingcompany.com/ or call us at (480) 832-1660.
We provide a host of services that homeowners in Arizona have trusted us for since 1949 and our customers have never been disappointed. For all your plumbing, gas line and air conditioner needs, we are your people. Feel free to reach out to us if you have more questions about it, we’d be happy to oblige.