With Southwest Ohio’s heating season fast approaching, it’s time to start thinking about your furnace. One of the easiest ways to ensure your home remains comfortable this winter is by making sure you change your furnace filter on time.
The purpose of your furnace filter is to capture dirt, dust and other airborne particles such as bacteria, pollen and dust mites that can coat the inner workings of your HVAC system and degrade indoor air quality. When filters become clogged, the vital air filtration process becomes compromised, threatening the health of your family. To preserve the performance of your HVAC system and keep your family healthy, it’s imperative that you regularly check and replace your furnace filter throughout the upcoming months.
Homeowners should inspect the furnace filter every month. Basic flat-panel fiberglass or paper filters have a larger amount of space between fibers. They effectively block large particles from entering the HVAC system but do little to capture the smaller particulates that reduce air quality. Buildup on these filters may actually help to filter the air, but at a certain point your blower fan will start blowing particulates around the edges of the filter. During your monthly filter check, if the filter looks dirty or clogged, change it.
High-efficiency air filters generally only need changed once every three months, but homeowners should still inspect them monthly. If high-efficiency filters become clogged, they will drastically diminish airflow, causing your furnace to work harder and your energy bill to climb. Eventually, your furnace may break down.
If you notice abnormal dust buildup in your home or your heating system fan is running constantly, these could be indications that it’s time for a new filter. Homes with multiple occupants, pets or smokers will also require more frequent furnace filter changes. To reduce the rate at which you must change your furnace filter, try reducing the amount of dust in your home by investing in a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter. Try using high-quality furnace filters, and if you have pets, keep them well groomed. Smoking outside will also help to preserve the life of your furnace filter (as well as household occupants).
For more expert advice about your HVAC system or home care and comfort, please contact us at Ace Hardware Home Services, Inc.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Dayton, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
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