Your HVAC system works properly if you are maintaining, cleaning and replacing the air filters on a timely basis. Air filters work well for three to twelve months. The model and thickness of the filter play a crucial role in their longevity. The thinner filters deplete faster than the thicker ones. A five-inch air filter will work for a year compared to a one-inch filter that lasts only for three months. Washable filters have worked for years; you just have to clean them on a monthly basis, but these don't perform or provide results when compared to disposable air filters.
Identifying When to Replace Air Filters
A visual inspection of air filters makes you aware of whether the air filter requires a replacement or not. When you inspect the air filter and find it clean, then it can be used for the time being. A visibly dirty filter is an indication that you should change it immediately. Your HVAC will perform better when you change the air filters in a timely manner. A healthy home environment is maintained through the clean air coming out through your HVAC.
Types of Air Filters and Their Longevity
Two types of filters are used across— Fiberglass and Pleated. The type of filter decides how often the air filter needs to be replaced. As a cost-effective option, the fiberglass filters are more affordable but require a monthly changeover. The Pleated filters are expensive, but they generally last for ninety days. A three-month continuous usage is guaranteed while using the pleated ones.
Manufacturer Guidelines for Filter Replacement
The manufacturer guidelines clearly demarcate when to change the air filter. Whenever you purchase a new air filter, it clearly shows the time period for replacing it. However, apart from these guidelines, factors like size, pets, and season influence the changeover of air filters.
Yearly Subscription for Air Filter Replacement
Some manufacturers offer a yearly subscription charge, so you don't need to worry about the period of time needed to replace the air filters. You are charged on a yearly basis, and filters are replaced per the duration of the scheduled changeover.
Impact of Property Size on Filter Replacement Frequency
The larger the size of your property, there will be a constant need to replace the air filters of your HVAC. The rule is simple: the bigger the space, the more often the replacement is. The smaller the space, the less the frequency of replacing air- filters.
Effect of Outdoor Air Quality on Filter Longevity
The outdoor quality of air is a deciding factor in replacing air filters. In urban zones where the air quality index is poor, the air filters get clogged more often than in places where air quality is good. The air pollutants diminish the HVAC filters through congestion of dust, smoke and other harmful substances.
Influence of Pets on Air Filter Maintenance
Replacing a clogged air filter immediately is a must for the smooth running of your HVAC.
Pets roam around your home freely, and they love air coming through the HVAC. Their hair and dander pile onto the air filters. The pet's dirt can clog the filter more often than in a home without pets. If you have pets, it is advisable to change the filters on a monthly basis to maintain clean and safe air.
Connection Between Allergies and Air Filter Condition
Allergies like cough, sneezing and nasal infection may be caused by a congested air filter. The circulation of trapped dust, pollen, and dander by your air filters gives rise to these allergies. To get rid of the allergies, you require cleaner air, which is available only when you have unclogged filters. Replacing the air filter on a frequent basis is the solution for safeguarding your home from allergies.
Seasonal Variations in Air Filter Replacement Needs
The season decides upon the need to replace the filters. In spring and fall, the HVAC is used on the lower side, giving your filters more time to relax. The lower usage ensures that your air filter lasts for longer periods. It gets totally opposite in summers and winters, when the demand for HVAC is very high, making the clogging of air filters more often than required. The replacement frequency increases in these high-usage seasons. The dust and debris continually clog the filter, requiring it to be replaced repeatedly.
Benefits of Using a Fan in Mild Seasons
The use of a fan to circulate air in your home in mild seasons is beneficial. You open your doors and windows in these seasons more often than in the high summer or cold weather conditions. The lesser usage of HVAC doesn't guarantee that your air filters aren't being crammed with dust and pollutants. You may still be required to replace them as per their schedule changeover.
Importance of High-quality Filters in Homes With Children
A high-quality filter is essential in a home with children. Your child is more prone to pollutants like dust and dander, making it paramount to change the air filters at your HVAC more subsequently. Have healthy and safe air for your child with a clean air filter all the time.
Effect of Household Occupancy on Filter Replacement
A few occupants at your home impact the lifespan of air filters. Wherever there is less occupancy, the filter lasts for a longer duration. The higher the number of members of the family, the more the required changeover of air filters. This is predominantly due to the contamination of air level increases in your surroundings by more occupants.
Visual Inspection of Air Filters
Hold your air filters in a light source and visually inspect the stuffing of dust and debris onto it. If the clogging had made it so crampy that even the light wasn't able to pass through it, just replace it.
Choosing the Right Filter for Longevity and Clean
Picking the right filter with its scheduled replacement will help you increase the overall life duration of HVAC and maintain clean indoor air at your home. Ordering these air filters online is one of the easiest ways to have them replaced at any time.
Conclusion
If you think that you can run your HVAC without the need to replace them, you are inviting the depletion of the HVAC system as the dust and debris start moving towards evaporator coils, which would restrict the airflow and effectiveness of the system. A simple regular change of filters is a solution to it. The change makes sure that your energy bills are reduced as the newly replaced filter provides better airflow at your home.