Staying on top of routine air filter changes is always essential for protecting your home heating and cooling equipment. However, when winter comes rolling in, you’ll want to pay extra attention to this component. With a dirty HVAC air filter in your Richardson, TX, home, everyone can suffer. Read on to find out why.
Your Home Is Sealed Tight
One large part of getting your home winter-ready is creating an airtight living environment. Sealing gaps, cracks, and other air leaks, installing weatherstripping, and adding additional insulation will limit heat loss and lower your spending on energy. However, it will also increase the number of particulates that are floating around indoors. With people constantly tracking in mud, dirt, and other debris, and with household pets spending more time inside, there’s nowhere for these allergens to go but into your HVAC system and through its air filter.
When outside temperatures are extremely low, residents are also unlikely to open up windows and doors to let fresh air flow through. With the heater on all of the time, HVAC air filters can quickly become overwhelmed. If you don’t have a secondary source of air filtration in your home, a dirty HVAC air filter can result in a dramatic decline in your indoor air quality (IAQ). This can lead to itchy, watery eyes, blocked nasal passages, coughing, sneezing, and many other unpleasant symptoms.
Having a Clean HVAC Air Filter Can Prevent Heating Emergencies
One of the most common causes of HVAC malfunctions is poor filter maintenance. Dirty HVAC air filters reduce airflow and force furnaces to work much harder. This can result in overheating, hot and cold spots throughout the building, and substantial increases in your home energy bill.
With home heating accounting for 50% of the average household’s energy costs in winter, regularly changing your air filter out is a quick and easy way to keep your spending under control. It will also help you avoid a number of repair issues.
Consistently Clean Filters Can Extend the Lifespan of Your HVAC System
The extra work that furnaces are forced to do when their filters are dirty accelerates normal wear and tear. If your heater is constantly overworking and on the verge of overheating, it probably won’t last as long as you expect it to. Furnaces with dirty air filters take longer to heat homes up and they often run all of the time. Thus, checking and refreshing this component once each month is a good idea.
Hammack Service Company, Inc. has been proudly serving residents of Richardson, TX, since 1972. We offer heating, cooling, and indoor air quality services. We also provide ductless mini-splits and heat pumps. If you need professional HVAC maintenance to prime your furnace for the cooling season, get in touch with Hammack Service Company, Inc. today!
