Changing our air filters, despite the simplicity, is a home maintenance task that often falls to the wayside in the vast sea of home upkeep. However, it can be one of the most important things you can do to make sure you’re keeping your bills down, preventing further unnecessary expenses, and prioritizing your family’s health. Read on to find out how!
1: Extend the Life of HVAC System
Air conditioner units, with proper maintenance, should last around 15-20 years. However, repeated clogged air filters can shorten the overall lifespan of your AC unit. This is because the system has to work harder to function when the filter is clogged, and that unnecessary strain can cause further unnecessary wear and tear. Taking the time to change your air filters when you need to can save you (big!) money in the long run.
2. Increased Efficiency Lowers Energy Bills
Another reason to regularly change your filters, which ties into our previous tip, is to save money on your energy bills. Because your system is running smoothly, without the burden of a clogged air filter, much less energy is needed to cool down your home. This increased efficiency will reward you with lower energy bills. Regular home maintenance pays off!
3. Clean Air Means a Clean Home
As we know, the point of an air filter is to filter out impurities in our forced air. However, the impurities that may get past an old filter may not be obvious to us. They come in the form of dust, pollen, and other microscopic particles that a fresh air filter would filter out. When they have been filtered out our homes are cleaner as a result. We no longer have dust, and other particles, circulating in our air supply, causing unnecessary cleaning, and further home maintenance.
4. Purified Air Improves Health
Our final tip may prove to be the most persuasive, especially for families who may have members with allergies or respiratory problems. Since air filters (with at least a rating of 5) eliminate tiny air impurities, like dust and pollen, they can have a profound impact on people who are sensitive to airborne irritants. Those with allergies or respiratory issues will particularly want to keep an eye on their home’s air filter, because of how deeply their health can be impacted by these tiny air impurities.
So, How Often Should I Change My Filter?
Great question! Your air filter should be changed every one-to-three months, depending on the type of filter used and other factors.
If you…
Have Allergies:
– Change out every 50 days.
Have Children:
– Change out every 2 months.
Have Pets:
– Change out every 2 months.
Use Fiberglass Filters:
– Change out every month.
Use Pleated Filters:
– Change out every 3 months.
In Conclusion:
We hope that we have incentivized you into changing your home’s air filter regularly with this week’s Homeowner Tip! We know that home maintenance can be difficult and many tasks can rank lower in priority, but it’s always surprising to see just how impactful small changes can be on the overall wellbeing of our homes. Doing simple fixes each month, like changing the air filter, can help prevent much bigger issues from arising in the future.
About Gerardo Zavala, Realtor
There is a true passion for connecting people with real estate that makes me fall in love with my career over and over again. While my title says, REALTOR® I think I am much more than that. For example, I am present and actively listening to my client’s needs, on the spot when things are urgent, and by your side to say “congratulations.” Most of my clients will say that I am a connection away from support no matter the situation, day, or time. In my opinion, customer service, educating the client on progress and next steps, and overall satisfaction are my top priorities. How can I help you?
