Your Heating And AC Repair Company’s Guide To Air Filters And Purifiers | North Richland Hills, TX
Having good indoor air quality is important to your health and the efficiency of your HVAC system. This article will talk about two devices that can improve your home’s indoor air quality: air filters and air purifiers. For installation, please only hire a licensed AC repair service technician in your area.
What Air Filters Do
Clean air filters are good for your HVAC system, your health, and your wallet. Remember, your home can contain many contaminants. You can improve your home’s indoor air quality and prevent contaminant buildup inside your home by investing in good air filters and by having good ventilation. For specialized filters, it’s important to also make sure they are properly installed. Only work with licensed heating and AC repair technicians in North Richland Hills, TX, for the proper installation of your air filters.
Air filters can catch pollen, dust, smoke, dirt, allergens, pet dander, and dust mites in the air. For specialized filters, they can remove mold, viruses and bacteria.
Another role air filters play is that they keep debris and dirt out of your equipment. Dirt can damage some components of your HVAC system or the duct system over time, reducing their lifespan. With clean air filters, you get to also reduce costly heating and AC repair service.
Why It’s Important to Change the Air Filters
Below are the three reasons why it’s incredibly important to clean or replace your air filters. If you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact a technician in North Richland Hills, TX.
Health Concerns
Allergens, dirt, and other particles can build up in your home. Cleaning and paper products and pets can stir up airborne contaminants. If you have family members with asthma, indoor air pollution and smoke can make it worse. Viruses, bacteria, and mold can also spread disease. Your best defense for you and your family’s health is clean air.
Prevent Heating and AC Repair
When the air filters are clogged, the HVAC system will work hard to pull air through your home. It’s going to put strain on the system, and will likely result in a complete breakdown when not addressed. While technicians in North Richland Hills, TX, can fix your HVAC system, it’s always best to avoid costly heating and AC repair service to save money.
Energy Efficiency
When the system works harder, it will use up more energy. With clean filters, the system can move warm and cool air more efficiently in your home and your HVAC will run smoothly. If you have more questions about the benefits of having clean filters or which filters to install in your home, feel free to contact one of our technicians.
How Often to Change the Filters
Filter manufacturers usually have specific recommendations on how often to change your heating and cooling system’s air filters, but the standard is to replace them every month or every other month. Several factors are considered as to how often to go about cleaning the air filters in your home. They include:
- Type of filter installed
Not all filters are the same. Pleated air filters and fiberglass filters are the most common ones. They are effective at filtering particles and dust in the air, and these types of filters usually last up to 90 days. But this also depends on how often you are using the HVAC system. To be on the safe side, check the filters every month and change them when dirty. Otherwise, check it every two to three months. Dirty filters can affect the efficiency of your system and may also lead to costly heating and AC repairs when not replaced. If you have questions about your air filters, feel free to contact the manufacturer or talk to one of our technicians in North Richland Hills, TX.
- Size of your home
How large is your living space? The bigger your home, the more air the filters must process. You might need to clean or replace your air filters often when you’re heating or cooling a large living space.
One thing to keep in mind: Make sure to also purchase a bigger heating or cooling system when you have a large home. If you have a small AC and you’re cooling a bigger space, the unit will only work harder. That could lead to costly heating and AC repair service costs. If you’re replacing your unit and you need help deciding what size to purchase, contact one of our technicians.
- Air quality
Do you live in an area where airborne debris, smoke, and dust are common? Your air filters will only clog up quicker. You may need to replace them often.
- Family members with allergies
If you have household members suffering from respiratory issues or allergies, we suggest that you replace the filters regularly. Clean filters don’t only prevent costly heating and AC repair in North Richland Hills, TX, but it also provides a cleaner environment for your family members.
You may want to also consider investing in HEPA or UV filters as these types of filters have high MERV ratings and are highly effective at eliminating even the tiniest particles in the air.
- Pets
You may need to change the filters often as pet hair and dander can clog them up. Cleaning the filters regularly can remove the pet dander that can affect your home’s indoor air quality.
Clean filters can significantly improve airflow, providing you with a clean and comfortable home.
How to Know if It’s Time to Check the Air Filters
The easiest way to know if it’s time to change the air filters is to open your HVAC system and inspect it. Continue using it if it’s still clean after 30 days. Otherwise, change them.
If you don’t know how to remove specialized filters, contact a heating and AC repair service technician in North Richland Hills, TX, for assistance. Reading the manufacturer’s manual can also help.
Install Air Purifiers to Protect Your Home from Contaminants
Most Americans spend about 90 percent of their time indoors, especially today when a lot are working from home. This means that you could be exposed to a wide range of pollutants over long periods of time.
While contact with pollutants may not cause extensive harm, long-term exposure to airborne contaminants can lead to serious health effects, especially for those family members already suffering from respiratory issues or those with compromised immune systems. Older adults and children, or people with chronic illnesses are at higher risk. You can improve the indoor air quality of your home by investing in an air purifier.
Sources of Indoor Air Pollution
An ideal indoor air quality means there’s less indoor air pollution in your home. There are less pollutants and the temperature is comfortable. The humidity levels are also normal.
When you notice strange odors and start to feel sick, the culprit could be your home’s indoor air quality. Some people may experience irritation in the eyes, mouth, nose, and throat upon exposure to these contaminants. In some people, exposure to these airborne contaminants can also take months or years to develop.
You can identify pollutants if you have a home air quality test kit or by hiring a heating and AC repair service technician. An air purifier is effective at removing different kinds of airborne contaminants in your home.
Animal hair, molds, dander, pollen, dust mites, spores and bacteria are common contaminants. Harmful gasses can also cause indoor air pollution. Even cooking fumes also contribute to pollution.
How Air Purifiers Work
The air purifiers installed in your home use internal fans in pulling air into the filters, and the latter would trap any airborne particles lurking in your home. These internal fans would then recirculate the purified air back into your living spaces. To ensure the efficiency of your air purifiers, make sure that you change the filters every three to six months.
Some air purifier models can trap particles that are as tiny as 2.5 micrometers, including compounds from cigarette smoke and even motor vehicles. Our lungs have no defense against these tiny particles, which is why it’s important to have purifiers that can get rid of these contaminants.
What about viruses? Can air purifiers get rid of them?
While they shouldn’t be the main source of prevention against viruses, air purifiers can help you breathe easily and maintain better health. To avoid the spread of viruses and germs, it’s always best to wash your hands and disinfect your home.
If you have questions about air purifiers and how they can help improve indoor air quality, please don’t hesitate to contact a heating and AC repair service technician in your area.
Benefits of Air Purifiers
You can avoid illnesses and boost your overall health by improving indoor air quality. Air purifiers are highly effective at removing these contaminants in the air including dust and pet dander. For installation, please make sure to only work with a licensed heating and AC repair service technician. Below are the benefits of installing air purifiers for your home:
- Reduces airborne contaminants and gasses
- Improves indoor air quality
- Improves respiratory conditions
- Saves energy
- Reduces unpleasant odors
- Less spores, bacteria, pollen, and animal dander in your home
Below are other tips for improving indoor air quality. If you have questions or are ready to install air purifiers, please contact our heating and AC repair service technicians for assistance.
- Open the windows for proper ventilation and allow the airborne contaminants to leave your home.
- Consider buying some house plants as some plants are effective at absorbing airborne contaminants. Also, they can help improve the appearance of your home.
- As mentioned, change the air filters regularly to prevent the buildup of contaminants that may find their way into your living spaces. If you need help with specialized filters, please contact a heating and AC repair service technician in your area.
- Don’t forget to sweep the floor and vacuum to remove the allergens and dust that may accumulate on the floors.
- Do you have energy-efficient ceiling fans? They can help circulate clean air throughout your home. If you need assistance on installation, please contact a heating and AC repair service technician in your area.
- Control the humidity in your home. High humidity can lead to mold growth, negatively affecting your home’s indoor air quality. Invest in a dehumidifier to help remove moisture in the air. Contact our heating and AC repair service technicians if you need help choosing a dehumidifier.
- Tobacco can contain thousands of chemicals. Make your home smoke-free to prevent harmful toxins from entering your home.
How Much Energy Does an Air Purifier Use
An average air purifier can consume up to 550 kilowatt-hours annually. Invest in an energy-efficient air purifier to help you conserve energy and save money. Also, make sure to hire a licensed heating and AC repair service technician to professionally install your new air purifier.
How to choose an air purifier:
Consider the portability, size, and filtering capabilities in choosing the right air purifier. Go with a unit high in CADR or clean-air delivery rate. The higher the CADR, the larger space it can cover. Contact our heating and AC repair service technician if you need help in choosing the right air purifier for your home.
Contact One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth
Do you need a heating and AC repair service technician in North Richland Hills, TX? Call us today! As a reliable HVAC company, trust that our heating and AC repair service technicians can always deliver. They go the extra mile to ensure all our clients are highly satisfied with our services. Contact One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth today for an appointment.