Advice on Changing Air Filters From a Santa Rosa HVAC Contractor

Many homeowners don’t think much about the filter in their HVAC unit unless there’s an obvious indication of a problem. The air filter seems somewhat unimportant and is one of the simplest parts of your HVAC system. But despite its simplicity, any HVAC contractor will tell you that the air filter is extremely important for the proper function of the entire unit. It should be changed regularly for best results.

If you don’t change your filter regularly, you can negatively impact the lifespan of your HVAC system. Dirty air can clog up the filter pretty quickly and put additional strain on the unit. Here are a few of the top benefits you’ll enjoy by simply changing your air filter regularly (at least twice per year).

Reduce Allergy Symptoms

Dirty air is a common trigger of allergy and asthma symptoms. When your air filter becomes so clogged that it can no longer effectively filter dirt out of the air, you’ll start to have more dirty air floating through your home. One indication that this may be the case is if you notice a lot of dust buildup on your shelves, furniture and other home surfaces. This can make things much worse for anyone in your house who has allergies. Even visitors may notice that their allergies are worse when they’re in your home.

To keep this from happening, change your air filters regularly. Clean air filters can do their job much more effectively than dirty air filters. You’ll probably notice the difference in your allergy symptoms soon after you replace an old air filter with a fresh one. You don’t need to hire an HVAC contractor to replace your air filter. Most homeowners can do this simple task with minimal effort.

Improve Indoor Air Quality

Many homeowners are shocked to discover that the air quality inside their homes is far worse than the air quality outside. But it doesn’t have to be that way. By frequently changing out your HVAC air filter, you can improve your indoor air quality.

Clean indoor air is much nicer to breathe than dirty indoor air. It is also more conducive to good health. Common pollutants in the air can negatively impact your immune system and make you more susceptible to various illnesses. Clean air, on the other hand, can support healthy immunity so you get sick less frequently.

Lower Your Energy Costs

Your HVAC contractor knows that when your air filter is dirty, it forces your HVAC system to work much harder than it would otherwise. The added strain on your unit can cause your energy bill to skyrocket. If you’ve recently noticed that your utilities seem to be steadily rising despite your best efforts to keep them low, the problem may be a dirty air filter. Try changing your filter and seeing if that helps reduce your energy costs each month.

If changing the air filter doesn’t fix the problem, you may want to hire an HVAC contractor to come out and take a look at your HVAC system. There may be some other issue going on that requires immediate attention. If your HVAC unit has a problem and you don’t take care of it quickly, you could end up with much bigger and more expensive problems to fix. It’s always best to take care of a home-related repair need before it has time to advance into a bigger repair need.

Help Maximize the Lifespan of Your HVAC Unit

An HVAC unit is expensive to replace, which is why you want to do everything you can to help your current unit last as long as possible. In addition to hiring an HVAC contractor to come out and regularly maintain your unit, it’s also important to take some initiative and make sure your air filter is clean.

You can try cleaning your filter with a vacuum if you want, but once it gets to a point where it can’t be cleaned easily, it’s time to replace it. For best results, clean or replace your filter at the beginning of each new season.

Get Your HVAC System Serviced by a Skilled HVAC Contractor

When it comes to keeping your HVAC system in good working order, it’s important to trust skilled experts to provide you with regular maintenance and repair services. You should try to have your system maintained at least twice per year. The best times are right before the heat of summer hits and right before winter cold arrives. But if your HVAC unit ever makes strange sounds or doesn’t seem to be working properly, schedule service with an HVAC contractor right away instead of waiting for your next maintenance appointment.

The HVAC experts here at Next Level HVAC look forward to taking care of your HVAC system so you can rely on it whenever you need it most. If you aren’t sure how to change your air filter, we’ll be happy to show you at your next HVAC maintenance appointment. For more information about how to keep your HVAC system working smoothly, contact us today.