If you want to get the best efficiency, performance, safety, and longevity from your home’s heating and cooling system, make sure to change your air filter on a routine basis. Keeping it clean is crucial because this keeps out many of the airborne particulates that can harm your system. A clean air filter will help with the following.
Improve System Efficiency
Keeping the air filter clean allows the right amount of air to flow through the forced-air system, which is necessary for it to operate as efficiently as the manufacturer intended. When the airflow slows, it’ll take longer for your home to reach the thermostat’s setting, reducing energy efficiency.
Extend System Lifetime
The dust that enters through a dirty filter covers all the parts, insulating them so they retain more heat. The fan’s motor will burn out faster and the heat exchanger will wear out more quickly. When you change your air filter regularly, less dust collects on this essential part. When it’s dirty, it stays hot longer, stressing the metal.
Cracks can form in the heat exchanger. If they go all the way through, carbon monoxide can enter your home. Fixing a cracked heat exchanger involves a costly repair or complete system replacement. In the short term, dirty parts can cause the system’s high limit switch to turn the furnace on and off frequently, which also stresses parts and reduces their lifetime. This short cycling also drives up energy costs.
Improve Indoor Air Quality
Depending on the quality of the filter you use, a clean one can help maintain good indoor air quality. Filters trap airborne particles of varying sizes, with high-efficiency filters capturing both large and small particles. A clean filter will trap more dust, pollen, pet dander, and if so designed, mold spores and other irritants. If anyone in your home suffers from respiratory issues, keeping the filter clean will help relieve some of their symptoms.
If you’d like more information about when to change your air filter and the best type for your system, please contact us at Gartner Heating & Cooling. We’ve provided top-notch HVAC services for homeowners in Chicago and its northern suburbs since 1985.
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