A major part of this preparation is checking and changing your air filters. Did you know that most of our allergies are based in our homes? As we transition into fall it is important to prepare ourselves and our homes for environmental change. That being said, air filters play an important part in our home air system as they impact the airflow and efficiency of our cooling/heating systems.
Factors That Contribute to Changing Air Filters
Like any other lifestyle necessity, air filters are affected by external factors. Some common external factors that contribute to changing air filters are factors like the air quality in the residential area that you live, how often your AC and heating units are run, the air filter you’re using in your home, and the number of residents and guests that populate your house. Some less known factors are the flooring you have, and the number of pets, if any, that you have. These factors combined will ultimately affect and decide how long you should keep an air filter.
Checking & Changing Air Filters Saves Money
If you don’t change the air filters, you risk restricting the airflow and causing your thermostats to be subjected to increased workloads to compensate for the restriction of cool air or heat passing through the home. This would be considered an inefficient system. An inefficient system will cause higher energy bills, which means more money is spent in the long run. Not only that, but an inefficient system will likely work too hard and cause the system to eventually need repairs or, worse, have a shorter life expectancy.
See the difference between a dirty and clean air filter below by sliding the arrows!
Our Recommended Frequency for Checking Air Filters
We recommend checking your air filters at least once a month, more depending on the number of external factors that contribute to your home life. New home technology like some programmable thermostats can be programmed to remind you to do this. Another way we would suggest is checking every payday or when a specific bill is due. These will serve as excellent beacons for a reminder since they are consistent and monthly occurrences that happen. As always, we recommend that you change your air filter whenever it is dirty.
Types of Air Filters
There are numerous types of air filters available for installation in home units. The common air filters for homes are flat fiberglass, pleated, electrostatic, and HEPA.
Fiberglass Filters
Flat fiberglass filters are inexpensive and easy to install but aren’t the most effective when it comes to trapping dust particles before releasing air into your home. Therefore, particles can often circulate within your house without ever completely being removed.
Pleated Filters
Pleated filters will do a better job than fiberglass and assist with trapping dust particles and reducing allergic reactions within your home. While this filter is slightly more expensive, they work better than fiberglass so many homeowners prefer this filter.
Electrostatic Filters
Electrostatic filters use electricity to target charged particles like debris and dust to trap them inside of the filter. This filter will likely last a couple months, versus the singular month that most fiberglass and pleated filters work for. However, a drawback of electrostatic filters is that they don’t search and collect tiny particles like smoke.
HEPA Filters
HEPA filters will be the best filter option because they target and trap particles no matter how small or large. They remove all allergens and a grand majority of all particles that enter your home air. The caveat to HEPA filters is that they are often too efficient and end up restricting airflow in the home.
A&R strives to meet your air conditioning, heating, and plumbing needs. Contact us today at 806-372-1572 so we can fulfill your expectations while providing you the peace of mind that you’re receiving the best service possible, whether the job is big or small.
