Like any air filter, the filter in your HVAC system – or your furnace filter – helps to clean the air that flows through it.
That’s the first clue to the importance of regularly replacing the filter. Doing so helps to improve the indoor air quality of your home. But there are many other reasons to regularly changing HVAC filters located in your HVAC equipment.
3 Benefits of Changing Your HVAC System’s Filter
It Traps More than Dust and Debris – There’s more floating around in the air of your home than you think. Depending on the type of filter you use in your heating and cooling systems, it can also trap mould spores, pollen and other allergens, which can cause eye, throat and skin irritation, nasal congestion and wheezing.
Reduces Your Energy Costs – When you’re not regularly changing your HVAC filter, it becomes clogged with everything it’s filtering out of the air. That means your HVAC equipment must work harder to pull air through the filter. The extra effort needed results in higher energy costs to heat and cool your home.
Lower HVAC Maintenance, Repair & Replacement Costs – By keeping your air filter clean, you reduce how much work the HVAC unit needs to do to keep your home comfortable. As a result, it won’t break down as often, and it will last longer too.
How Often Should You Replace Your Air Filter?
How often you need to replace your HVAC filter depends on how much use it gets. Generally speaking, you should change the filter from every 30 days to every 90 days.
The following are signs that you should replace your filter more often.
- You like your home to be extra warm in winter and extra cool in summer
- You notice unexplained increases in allergic reactions and some of the other symptoms listed above
- You see an increase in your energy costs
- The weather is colder than usual in winter and warmer than usual in summer
If you found this post helpful, check out our recent article “How Long Does A Furnace Last In Canada?”
