We’ll start off by saying that if it’s been longer than 3 months, then the time to change it is now, especially if that air filter is also used for your central air conditioning system. We want you to be able to get the most efficient and effective use out of both of your HVAC systems as you can. And considering how much you use both, chances are you’d like to do anything you can to prevent unexpected Hendersonville, TN furnace services.
One proven way to do so is by performing one small maintenance task that’s easy to do on your own—changing the air filter. You may be surprised to find just how important this component is to your furnace. It’s about much more than protecting your indoor air quality. In fact, protecting air quality isn’t even its purpose! So, what is?
Your Air Filter Has an Important Job
The main job of your furnace’s air filter isn’t to protect your indoor air quality, but rather to protect the inside components of the furnace itself. Today’s filters are designed to optimize air quality as much as possible, however, since your furnace’s blower fan sucks in air at such a high speed, it could also potentially suck in debris.
The debris we’re talking about is dirt and other particulates like pet hair, dust, and even cigarette smoke. All of these have the potential to damage the furnace system. The filter is there to protect the heating system from these particles, and a dirty or clogged up furnace can cause you some trouble!
The Impact of a Dirty Furnace Filter
Both of your central HVAC systems are designed to take in a set amount of air with each cycle they go through. This airflow helps ensure that you’ll always feel comfortable, but also that the HVAC system motor doesn’t run for too long. Debris clogs up the filter and therefore doesn’t allow the right amount of air through, which negatively impacts more than just your comfort.
Yes, you’ll feel less comfortable from the lack of airflow, but this also means you’ll be paying more to even use your furnace, since it will have to run nonstop to try to reach the desired temperature on your thermostat, with limited airflow. You can expect a clogged up air filter to lead to problems such as:
- Short-cycling
- Overheating
- Emergency repairs
- Freezing coils
“How Do I Change My Air Filter, and Can I Clean It Instead?”
There’s no need to pay to resolve the above-mentioned issues when you can easily prevent them on your own by changing your air filter out every 1-3 months. The timing of your filter changes will depend on the type of filter you have. Typically, it will say right there on the side of the filter when you should change it.
To do so, you’ll typically find the existing filter in a marked point near your air handler, with arrows directing you on how and where to take it out. From there, you can dispose of it and put in the new one.
There are filters out there that are reusable, and can be cleaned instead of changed. This does not apply to all filters, and it’s worth noting that you’ll want to make sure this type of filter is completely dry before inserting it back in, to reduce the chances of mold growth.