3 Hidden Benefits of Regularly Replacing Your Air Filter

Why Replace Air Filters?

Your HVAC system has an air filter, and any HVAC professional will tell you that your air filter should be changed regularly. Why is this true? You probably know that changing your filter will reduce the dust in your house and keep the air circulating, but let’s look at some other benefits you might not have realized are the result of regular air filter replacement.

1) Improved Indoor Air Quality

Did you know that the air inside our homes is often more polluted than outside air? Knowing how to change an air filter is a big part of maintaining good air quality in your home. What does an air filter do? It traps and removes airborne contaminants, including allergens like dust, pollen, and pet hair. If it’s not regularly replaced, those particles can accumulate and make the filter less effective. This means that pollutants begin to recirculate in your home’s air, causing you to inhale them as you breathe.

Prevent Clogged Filters

Changing your filter regularly can prevent it from becoming clogged. If you don’t replace it, debris and dirt can build up, and this can lead to restricted air flow. You won’t have the clean, fresh air you expect from your HVAC, and your system will not be able to work properly. Clogged filters can release pollutants into the air, but they can also cause the HVAC system to fail. When something as simple as replacing an air filter can keep your system operational, it’s well worth the minimal time and effort required to change it.

Keep Your Air Clean & Safe

By removing the pollutants in your air, your air filter helps protect your health. Your air filter pulls allergens from the air, but did you know it can also remove mold, bacteria, and even some viruses? HVAC air filters can be extremely effective in cleaning your home’s air, particularly if you choose HEPA filters. However, if you fail to change these filters, these particles build up, and can be released from the filter, back into your air. What’s more, when your filter traps mold, that mold can begin to grow in the filter if it’s not replaced. The moisture that’s common in air filters can encourage this growth, and mold spores from a dirty filter can be released into the air. To protect yourself and your family from the harmful effects of mold and other pollutants, change your air conditioner filters often. Doing so will help you maintain clean air, reducing the risk of allergies, asthma and respiratory issues. It may surprise you to learn that in addition to promoting good health, clean air can reduce fatigue and enhance concentration and productivity.

2) Enhanced HVAC System Efficiency

Consider how you feel when your sinuses are clogged. You probably feel sluggish, fatigued, and unable to think clearly. Now, consider that the filter in your HVAC system is a little like sinuses. Your nose and sinuses remove impurities from the air before they can harm your body, and your HVAC filter does the same thing for your home. Failing to clean your filter creates a sort of “sinus infection” in your HVAC, causing it to work less effectively. It can become sluggish and strained, having to work harder to pull air through a dirty filter. When you change your filter regularly, though, it boosts the efficiency of your HVAC system, which is beneficial in a few ways.

Lower Energy Bills

First, when your system is more efficient, your energy costs drop. Replacing your air filters reduces the burden on your system and allows it to run more efficiently. In fact, Department of Energy statistics indicate that regularly changing your air filters can lower your heating and cooling costs by anywhere from five to 15 percent! What’s more, when your home air filters are clean, your system is running efficiently, and you’re saving energy, you’re helping to make your home more environmentally friendly.

Protect from dust

Dust can seem like an eternal hassle in your home, returning no matter how often you clean, but regularly changing your air filters can help. Clean air filters trap dust and prevent it from settling in your home, but if the filter is clogged, the dust will go elsewhere. Sometimes, this is your house, where dust settles all over your furniture and in your family’s respiratory systems. However, that same dust can coat the coils of your air conditioner, preventing it from working as effectively as it should.

3) Extended HVAC System Lifespan

If your HVAC filters are dirty, and your system has to work harder to heat or cool your home, it stands to reason that it will wear out more quickly than it would if it were running more efficiently. The strain a dirty filter puts on your system not only leads to higher energy costs, but also puts premature wear and tear on your system. When you regularly change your filter, you help your HVAC help you, making it easier for it to work efficiently and extending its lifespan. This saves you money, because replacing an HVAC system can be very expensive.

Lower Repair Frequency

An extended lifespan for your appliances saves you money on replacement, but guess what? It also saves money on repairs. Did you know that clogged filters are one of the primary causes of air conditioner malfunctions? When the filter is clogged, ice e can build up on the system, decreasing its performance and causing it to overheat. Simply changing your filter regularly can save you on costly repairs.

Triple-T Helps Maintain Your HVAC

In addition to keeping up with the maintenance of air filters for your house, it’s essential to have professional maintenance for your entire HVAC system. Having a technician come to your home in the spring and fall for routine maintenance can ensure that your air conditioner and heater are working properly, which can prevent costly repairs later. When your HVAC needs maintenance or repair, you can trust Triple-T Heating, Cooling, and Plumbing to keep your system in great shape. Since 1974, our family-owned and operated business has been committed to serving our community, providing the very best heating, air conditioning, air quality, and plumbing services. We’re dedicated to customer satisfaction, and we continually train our employees so that we’re always up to date with the latest technology. When you’re ready for “Service Beyond Expectations”, contact us for all your plumbing, air quality, and HVAC needs.