It’s Summer: Don’t Forget About Your Furnace!
Even though winter is behind us and the weather is getting warmer every day, you still need to think about your furnace maintenance.
The air filters are very important to the efficiency and performance of your furnace—ignoring them all summer long could cause you headaches once the temperatures start to drop!
Heating your home is probably the furthest thing from your mind right now, but there’s no better better time to change or clean your filters, while you’re not relying on the furnace!
How Often Do I Need to Change My Filters?
How often you need to change your furnace filters depends on many factors like how many pets you have and how much they shed, the air quality in your home, whether or not you smoke, and the type of filters you use.
Some environments naturally contain more airborne particles and debris than others, and the speed at which a filter becomes too dirty varies. However, best practice is to change them at least every three months. Between changes, it’s a good idea to check the filter once a month to make sure it’s not dirty and clogged. Typically, you will become familiar with the proper cycle.
Why Change Filters in the Warmer Months?
A dirty filter restricts the flow of air in your ductwork, meaning your heating system needs to work much harder to heat your home. This added strain can waste a lot of energy, cost you money, and decrease the useful life of your furnace.
The Importance of Replacing Furnace Filters
Furnace filters are absolutely critical for many reasons., They play a huge role in the air quality in your home. This is especially important for people with allergies, asthma, or any other respiratory-related health dispositions. Your filter helps to prevent toxins, allergens, and stray particles from circulating through the air and eventually finding their way into your lungs.
Furnace filters will help keep your energy costs under control. Less air can get through a dirty or clogged filter, so their cleanliness greatly affects the efficiency (or inefficiency) of your furnace.
And, importantly, any particles that aren’t captured in your air filter may accumulate on the furnace heat exchanger or indoor air conditioning coil, reducing the efficiency of the system.
Furthermore, it is important to have a qualified HVAC expert inspect your furnace on an annual basis. Regular maintenance is paramount to ensuring that you don’t freeze in the winter months! Take a little action now, and you could save yourself a lot of trouble later!
