The importance of your home’s air filter or filters is often overlooked and it is critical to make sure you keep them properly maintained. Indoor airflow is important to you and your family’s health and well-being. By making sure your filters are clean you can help protect yourself and your loved ones from respiratory difficulties caused by allergies, asthma, pet dander, or illness due to poor air circulation.
Beyond its impact on your health, proper airflow is important for the function of your home’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC). Dusty filters can reduce the flow of air and increase your energy use. This may cause equipment to malfunction or fail as dust could migrate into your HVAC system and cause damage to motors, fans, or coils. Regular air filter maintenance improves air quality, increases energy efficiency, and can save you thousands of dollars in expensive repairs.
Here are some tips for maintaining your filters:
Cleaning Your Air Filter
Some air filters are disposable and should be replaced rather than cleaned. You can determine this by looking at the user guide for your HVAC, by searching for your model online to find the guide, or by calling our professionals at Signature Heating and Cooling. If you do have filters that need cleaning, the process is relatively simple.
First, you will need to locate the filters. You may have one or several in your home depending on your specific HVAC system. Each filter is usually located behind a vent called a return. You may need a ladder to reach the return and a screwdriver to open the vent. Make sure to turn off the system before removing the filters.
For cleaning, you will need a brush and vacuum to remove caked-on dust and debris and a hose to thoroughly wash it away. It is important that you take your filters outside to clean them if possible, as the process can be messy. Use the brush first and get rid of as much dirt and dust as possible.
Next, vacuum the filter using a suction hose to remove any remaining loose material. After this, you can turn the filter over and use a low-pressure spray nozzle to run water through it. You want to run the water in the opposite direction of the airflow. Let this dry, then place the clean filter back in the return.
Replacing Your Air Filter
If you need to change your filters, the process starts similarly to cleaning. You will need to locate your returns, remove the covers, and replace the filters. As with cleaning, you need to turn off your system’s circulation first. Otherwise, dust and debris can be sucked into components of your HVAC and may cause damage to your unit.
How often you need to change your air filters is based on the size and type of your HVAC unit. In general, you should replace them every 3 to 4 months. It is important to check your equipment guide or contact an expert at Signature Heating and Cooling for more information.
Choosing the Right Filters
Before worrying about maintenance, it is important that you choose the best HVAC filter for your home. There are many filter sizes and types and each is suited to a different type of equipment. We can help you choose the best product to maximize air quality and HVAC efficiency.
We Can Help You Maintain Your Air Filter
At Signature Heating and Cooling, we are here to help with all of your HVAC needs. While you can usually change or clean filters on your own, we are happy to help you with this task as part of a repair or your yearly air conditioning maintenance.