Why Air Filters are Important for HVAC Systems
Updated: Mar 16
Air Filters are the first level of defense when it comes to an HVAC system running efficiently. A clean air filter can improve indoor air quality by reducing household allergens, pollen, dust particles, and pet dander in your home or your business.
In turn, causing the air that you are breathing in your space to be less contaminated with harmful allergens. According to the National Library of Medicine, air filters can reduce the risk of dust particle pollution in your home or business by sixty percent.
There were further studies done on air pollution in your homes and the impact it can have on your health. These are important advantages of how changing the air filters in your HVAC system regularly can have on your health and on the life expectancy of the air conditioning system itself.
By changing those air filters regularly, the study showed how the indoor air quality was impacted, the benefit of such a small task that requires little effort on our behalf, and what changing those filters can do for you and your HVAC system on a 30, 60, or 90-day basis.
The importance of changing the air filters on a timely basis will keep the HVAC system running more smoothly too. Proper replacement of a dirty or clogged air filter with a clean air filter can greatly reduce the risk of dust particles getting into the mechanical components, which may cause the system to work less efficiently.
If the air filters are clogged and dirty over an extended period of time. This type of neglect can wreak havoc on the whole HVAC system in general. In the short run, causing the air conditioning
system to require more maintenance or possibly even cause more costly issues like having to replace the whole HVAC system, inside and out.
HVAC systems are not cheap and could cost thousands of dollars to replace. Some companies run special offers on their websites for maintenance, cleaning, replacement filters, and replacement systems. In most cases, this can save you a ton of money in the long run with maintenance and fees that may be required for the upkeep of your HVAC system.
Air Filters and MERV Ratings
There are a few different types of air filters on the market for your HVAC system to choose from. Suppose you search for air filters in any search engine. You will see lots of results for the most popular filters available for purchase. Examples of some filters available are fiberglass, polyester, washable, pleated, and electrostatic filters. The filter ratings are based upon a system called the MERV or Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values system.
This system was created by ASHRAE, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers. This type of rating system is used to calculate the airflow of particles captured through the filter in micron measurements. This, in turn, gives the filter a rating from the least efficient to the best efficiency based on the air filter's ability to produce the reduction of dust particles in your home or business.
It is best to do some research on those air filters first BEFORE you make your purchase because some filters may not be rated or suited correctly for your specific HVAC system.
Most HVAC systems have the filter information listed on the front of the air handler inside your home or business. If the filter information is not listed, it may be best to leave that one to the professionals and contact an HVAC specialist nearest you.
They should be able to assist you further in obtaining the best air filter replacement information needed to turn the air quality in your home into a cleaner, greener, healthier environment for you and your family.
According to the CDC recommendations, to improve the ventilation in your homes, the best air quality is controlled by allowing fresh air to be circulated throughout your home by opening as many windows and doors as possible and turning on as many fans as possible. They also explain that turning on the HVAC system fan to the "on" can also help circulate that fresh air throughout your whole house.
If you have an HVAC system, the recommendation is that the filters are changed regularly according to the manufacturer's instructions and to have the ventilation system be checked and maintained every year.
Most HVAC professionals recommend replacing those air filters every 30 to 90 days to keep the system in check and improve indoor air quality. Replacing the filters will also allow the system to run more efficiently, saving you time and money in the long run.
Air Filter Replacement Programs
Some air conditioning companies offer air filter services and replacing those filters as quickly as possible will allow your system to run more efficiently. Most HVAC professionals recommend replacing those filters every 30, 60, or 90 days depending on the type of filter you have purchased for your HVAC system.
Some companies may have this air filter replacement program where the filters are shipped right to your door, and they can be a quick reminder to change that filter regularly. There is no need to run to the store and buy more filters when you can have the convenience of having them delivered straight to your home or at your business saving you time and money.
Important Reminder
Just a reminder that the importance of keeping those air filters changed or cleaned promptly will ensure that your HVAC system stays running more efficiently and the air quality in your home or business is cleaner and healthier for everyone around.
A properly maintained system and clean air filters can provide you with the security that is needed knowing that you have done your part in helping keep you, your family, or your colleagues breathing healthy air in your own home and your business environments.
It can also give you the security that doing the proper maintenance and replacing the air filters as quickly as possible can ensure that the HVAC system will keep you comfortable in the winter months and cool in the summer.