Did you know that, on average, Americans spend about 90% of their time inside their homes? While you’re staying indoors to enjoy a cool environment in the summer, you might not pay much attention to the condition of your air filters. Here are three reasons why it’s important to change the air filter in your Birmingham, AL, home.
1. Increased Energy Efficiency
Picture in your mind a simple box fan that, when first turned on, will operate as it should. If left on, over time the box fan will collect dust, hair and possibly fur. If you do not regularly clean it, the fan will have to work harder to move air around the room.
An air filter acts the same way when it becomes dirty and clogged. If the buildup of dirt and particulates clogs the air filter, then your heating and cooling system has to use more energy, work harder and run for a longer time to move the same amount of air. Not only are you breathing in dust particles and other debris, but you are also wasting money by using more energy.
The cost can add up since many people don’t regularly change their air filters. Imagine hundreds of thousands of people using more energy than they would normally need. This not only increases their utility bills, but it also creates more energy demand.
2. Better Health
What are you breathing when you are inside your home? Did you know that the concentration of pollutants in the air inside your home is often two to five times higher than that of the air outside? High-quality indoor air depends on knowing when to change your air filters.
Maintaining good health is the No. 1 reason why changing your air filter is important. Poor indoor air quality can lead to:
- Accumulation of pet dander
- Allergies, and asthma
- Dust, pollen and spores
- Other respiratory issues
Air filters catch particulates, microorganisms and spores, keeping your indoor air clean. However, if you don’t regularly change your air filters, they become less effective. When that happens, particulates can get into your indoor air and spread throughout the home.
The same goes for pollen, dust, smoke, smog and other pollution. An air filter can trap only so much before its effectiveness decreases, particularly if the city’s pollution is high. When that happens, the quality of your indoor air goes down as well.
Once the air filter can no longer eliminate pollen or dust, it starts building up in the home. This leads to increased asthma and allergy triggers. It also leads to other respiratory issues due to exposure from particulates, spores and pollution.
Even if you don’t have allergies, pet hair and dander can still affect your health. This is because hair and dander, even from a hypoallergenic breed, affects the indoor air quality of your home.
3. Increases HVAC Lifespan
Another reason why changing your air filter is important is that doing so increases your HVAC system’s lifespan. As mentioned above, the air filter has to work harder and longer to produce the same results when clogged and dirty. An HVAC system can be very expensive to replace or repair, so preventive measures will save you money.
The size of your home is another factor to consider when it comes to changing your air filter. Owners of a larger house will need to change the air filter more often than those who live in a smaller home.
Now that you know why it is important to change your air filter once a month, be sure to add this task to your normal cleaning routine. If you have allergies, asthma or other respiratory issues, regularly changing your air filter should reduce allergy and asthma triggers. You can take comfort in knowing that our technicians at Total Comfort Heating and Air are happy to help you achieve and maintain excellent indoor air quality, so contact us today for an appointment.
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