By Peter Elder
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March 14, 2021
HVAC filters! They are marketed using all of the catchy keywords associated with your health and the overall air quality of your home. To really understand the importance of the air filter and the need for regular replacement schedules, you can accurately assume a well-made filter is certainly a step towards not only enhancing the quality of the air inside your home, but also, protecting your HVAC system. Although that is an obvious motive at the point of purchase, the absolute most important function of the air filter is to prevent dust, hair and other airborne elements from entering the inside of the HVAC mechanical system, and to a lesser degree, your duct system. The air filter is put in place at the air return in an effort to prevent as much dust as possible from accumulating on other HVAC parts like the blower motor and blower wheel, which is vital to the systems operation. When you replace your filter, the dust and dander accumulation on the old filter is usually noticeable and you can fully appreciate that the filter was in place to collect the waste that would have otherwise ended up inside your unit, in your duct system and recycled back into the home. Not too appealing to think about, I know! The filters function prevents loss of performance and damage to the HVAC system and adds longevity to the system itself, all because the unit can breathe, so to speak. Without the proper use of air filters, over time, the system can be compromised. These unwanted particles can also ruin the electric heat strips on the HVAC unit because they collect dust in the summer and that dust gives the potential to catch fire when the heat is activated in the winter. The negatives of not using an air filter resonates even more when these unwanted particles (dust, dander, hair) settles and accumulates on the evaporator coil which lowers its operating temperature below what is optimum for its specific design which then has great potential to grow mold and algae, taking years off of the life of the coil. A dirty coil ages much quicker than a clean, breathable coil. A dirty evaporator coil also means your unit will run for longer periods of time in an attempt to cool your home in the summer and heat your home in the winter (if you have a heat pump). The cost of comfort is much higher because the unit is having to operate longer to achieve the desired temperature set on your thermostat. When considering the headache, expenses and costs of calling out an HVAC company for repairs, high electric bills and the eventual replacement of your HVAC system, the idea of replacing your air system filter (preferably once a month), doesn't seem too daunting of a task. Changing your HVAC system filter should be a priority for the overall air quality of your home and more importantly, to protect the integrity of your HVAC system. If you need assistance locating the air filter on your system, how often to replace your exact air filter, or aren't sure how to find the correct size filter, then give Peter a call and he can help with these types of issues often times, for no charge to you! We are available if you'd like to schedule a delivery of a case of filters so that we can talk about any specific comfort needs you may have. Give us a call and also ask about a yearly maintenance agreement where we can deliver those air filters to you on an annual or bi-annual basis. Call us at 868.3398 Peter Elder