5 Reasons Why It Is So Important to Change Your Air Filter | Tips from Your Dallas, TX Air Conditioning Company

5 Reasons Why It Is So Important to Change Your Air Filter | Tips from Your Dallas, TX Air Conditioning Company

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Homeowners in the Dallas, TX area are repeatedly advised to change their air filters in their homes but many fail to do this regularly. The filter is one of the simplest components of your home heating and cooling system, but it is also the most important.

At One Hour Heating and Air Conditioning, we want you to have a system that runs as cleanly and as efficiently as possible. Air filter replacement is a very important part of this. Your air filter plays a crucial role in helping you maintain a comfortable home. If you haven’t replaced your air filter in a while, now is the time to think about it.

Here are some reasons why replacing your air filter is important to your Dallas, TX home’s comfort and your air conditioning system’s efficiency:

A Clogged Filter Creates Inefficiency and Higher Costs

No other factor affects the performance and efficiency of your air conditioning system as much as a dirty or a clogged filter. A dirty filter can impede the air flow of your system.  When the air filter is clogged with dust, dirt and grime, your furnace and air conditioner have to work twice as hard to move air through your home. This will drive up your energy bills, increase your carbon footprint and drain you of your budget.

Airflow is one of the most important factors that affect the efficiency of your system. When the filter gets dirty, it reduces the airflow to the furnace, forcing the air conditioning system to work harder to heat or cool the room. This will both wear down your system and increase energy costs.

A Dirty Filter Pollutes the Air at Your Home

A dirty or contaminated air filter means that the blower is spreading dirty, airborne particles throughout your home. These particles include lint, dust, dirt, pollen, and even tiny microorganisms that aren’t visible to the naked eye. This means that you and your family will constantly be inhaling polluted air. Breathing in polluted air can have a detrimental impact on your health by causing allergies and making asthma and other respiratory problems much worse. As a result, a furnace filter needs to be changed or cleaned at least once a month when the system is being used regularly.

When deciding to purchase a new furnace filter, you may automatically decide to go with the most affordable option available. Understandably, many homeowners in the Dallas, TX area and the surrounding areas will opt for fiberglass panel filters because they cost less than other, higher quality filters. The problem with these filters is that they are only capable of filtering larger dust particles and are therefore useless when it comes to actually improving air quality.

There are certain things to consider however, before you decide on which air filter to buy.  Certain air filters are great at removing contamination from the air.  The efficiency of filters is measured by the Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) rating. The higher the rating, the more airborne contaminants you can expect your filter to remove form the air. We recommend a filter with a rating of at least 5. If you do however find an air filter with a higher rating, you can even consider buying a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. Make sure to not buy a filter that has a rating of over 10 because these can severely restrict the airflow of your system.

A Clogged Filter Increases Your Maintenance Costs

A dirty or clogged air filter will necessarily cause an increase in your maintenance costs. If your blower stops working regularly due to dust particles lodged inside or if your ductwork needs regular cleaning in order to function properly, you will need to spend regularly on the care and maintenance of your air conditioning system. It’s definitely not worth spending constantly on replacing and repairing the parts of your heating and cooling system and it makes far more sense to spend this money on replacing your air filters from time to time. If your air filter is clean, your system will continue to function properly and you will have to spend less money on overall system repairs.

A Clogged Filter Reduces the Life of Your HVAC System

A dirty filter means that your system has to work extra hard to both heat and cool your home. Not only does this lead to inefficiency and greater utility bills, it can also cause your system to overheat and burn out.  The excess strain placed on the blower and the entire air conditioning system can lead to the system breaking down completely. In fact, at One Hour Heating and Cooling, we have found that a clogged or dirty filter is the number one cause of system failure. Putting off the replacement of a dirty filter means that you will probably have to pay a lot more when your system ultimately fails owing to the dirty filter. Stop waiting for that to happen and get your air filter replaced right away. A small cost now is far better than a large price to pay later on.

A Cleaner Filter Leads to a Cleaner Home

Getting rid of your contaminated air filter can lead to cleaner air being dispersed throughout your home. This makes your home far more comfortable and will prevent any allergies caused by dust particles.

Now that you know just how important it is to change your air filter, you might wonder just how often you need to. There is no exact number of days in which you should consider changing your filter. It all depends on the strain you put on your filter and also what type of filter you have. But to be safe, once a month at least is ideal.

It’s always best to get your air filter checked by a professional. We can help you understand when an air filter replacement is absolutely necessary.

At One HourAir Conditioning and Heating, we offer convenient hours and round-the-clock emergency services all throughout Dallas, TX and the surrounding areas. As experienced heating and air conditioning contractors, we understand the importance of responding to customer calls promptly. So, if you are a homeowner in the Dallas, TX area, pick up the phone and contact us at 817-283-6911. Help is only one phone call away!