How Often You Should Change Your Air Filters

When it comes to HVAC maintenance, changing the air filters is one of the most important things to do. But, how often should you change your air filters? Depending on what kind of filter or area you are located in can change the amount you change the filters. Here is everything you need to know about changing your air filters: 

How do I know When to Change the Air Filters?

Air filters have an important job of collecting and preventing airborne debris from entering your home. When the filter is clogged, your system has trouble pushing the air through your home. Aside from visually seeing dust and debris on the filter or surrounding areas, you can notice a few things that can indicate it’s time for a filter change such as:

• Excessive amount of dust within the home. (Dust buildup can happen anywhere but especially on ceiling fans, blinds, tops of doors and on the floor) 
• HVAC damages.
• Low Airflow in the home.
• Increase in energy bills due to the system having to work harder to push through a clogged air filter.

If you are experiencing a sudden increase in your energy bills, it may be because of a clogged air filter or an old HVAC system. Right now, The Chill Brothers are offering their $2,000 Buyback Program where they will buy your old, qualifying system for up to $2,000 when you upgrade your system! Visit the website or give them a call for more details. 

How Often do I change the Air Filters?

Once you know when to air filters, you then need to figure out how often you should change them. Most fiberglass filters should be changed every 30 days, depending on the dust level inside your home and the amount of air pollutants outdoors. If pollen or other allergen particles are at an extreme high in your area, you might need to change them more often. 

Pleated filters however can go 1-2 months before a change is required. Just like with fiberglass filters, you will want to monitor and make sure that they are not clogged in between changes. 

Do you forget to change your air filters regularly? Did you know that a smart thermostat can alert you when it’s time to change them? Smart thermostats such as the Ecobee, Honeywell and Lennox, all have the capability to send alerts directly to your phone when it’s time to change your HVAC system’s air filters. For a limited time, The Chill Brothers are offering ANY smart thermostat installation for only $199! See our website for more details. 

What Affects Air Filter Quality?

Even if you change your air filters regularly, there are some things that can shorten their lifespan such as: 

Home Size

The size of your home plays a huge role in how long your filters will last. Smaller homes don’t push as much air throughout the home which can result in not having to change your filters as often. The opposite goes for larger homes. 

It is also important to know that smaller houses might have smaller filters that may become clogged quicker. It is recommended to monitor your filters and know when they are clogged. 

AC Usage

Especially in Texas, homeowners tend to use their HVAC system frequently. When the AC is running a lot, it is continuously pushing air within your home, causing the filters to get dirty fast. The more you run the system, the quicker the filter will clog and need replacing. 

Air Quality 

Most of the time, air filters can get clogged from dust or debris that is already present in the home. It will be a good idea to invest in an Air Scrubber or UV light to purify the air to prevent the air filter from getting dirty quickly. 

When it comes to properly maintaining your HVAC system, changing your air filters is one of the best ways you can ensure the healthiest, cleanest air possible! Contact the professionals at The Chill Brothers for all your HVAC solutions!