The summer sun often means that your HVAC system gets an extra workout. You can make its job easier — and your air quality better — by changing your air filter as needed.
Many homeowners aren’t sure how often an HVAC air filter needs to be changed in the summer. Air filters typically last from one to three months, depending on the conditions in your home, how often your HVAC system is used, and other factors.
The heat of summer typically means that your A/C runs more than any other time of year. When your A/C is running, it pulls air from your home to be cooled before it’s sent back into your living space.
Of course, that means that all the dust, mold spores, pet dander, pollen, and other pollutants that come into your home get pulled into your HVAC system along with the air. This creates two issues:
- Even small particles of dust and other pollutants can be hard on your HVAC system. Over time, these particles can build up and make your machine run less efficiently or even break down completely.
- You really don’t want to breathe more pollutants than you actually have to.
Your filter helps fix both problems by cleaning the particles out of the air. They don’t get into your HVAC system, and they don’t get put back into the air you’re breathing.
Naturally, the more air that goes through the air filter, the more particles the filter pulls from the air. This leads to its own problem: a clogged air filter makes the system work harder to pull air through it. Not only does this create its own form of wear and tear, but it also uses more energy.
To avoid wasting energy and to improve your indoor air quality, be sure to check your filters once a month during the summer and other periods of heavy use. Change them if necessary when you check them, or at least every three months.
Need advice about your air filter or other HVAC issues in the Indianapolis area? Contact Mowery Heating, Cooling and Plumbing today.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Brownsburg, Indiana and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
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