Most people don’t realize how pivotal the HVAC filter is to both their homes and their HVAC system. Here in Houston, TX, you may only think about your filter when the seasons change, particularly transitioning from the warmer temperatures of summer to the cooler temps of fall, but filters need more attention than that all year long. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Energy Star® program recommend replacing your filter as frequently as once every month, but at the very least every three months. And here’s why:
Saves you Green (Money!).
Despite the argument that changing your filter on a monthly basis costs you more money, in actuality, regularly changing your filter saves you money. By giving your HVAC system clean filters, your system doesn’t have to work as hard to heat or cool your home. This saves you money in a few ways. First, your system is working as it should and won’t need repairs as often, saving you money. Second, when your system isn’t clogged from dirty filters, your system is again running smoothly, thereby not having to work harder. When it does work harder, it uses more energy. So when it’s running efficiently, it’s running in an energy-efficient manner, saving you money. Third, when your system is clean, its lifespan is increased (from not having to work harder), so you won’t need to replace the system earlier than scheduled, again, saving you money.
Keeps your indoor air quality (IAQ) high
The air you breathe inside your home isn’t always of the highest quality, but by changing your filter on a monthly basis, it goes a long way to help it. Here are a couple statistics for you. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Americans now spend as much as 90 percent of their time indoors. And according to the EPA, our indoor air is two to five times as toxic as our outdoor air. These indoor pollutants cause or can worsen allergies and respiratory illnesses, such as asthma, as well as other long-term conditions and diseases like heart disease and cancer. With information like this, keeping the air you breathe in your home as clean as possible needs to be a priority. Changing your HVAC filter monthly will go a long way in keeping those toxic particles out of your lungs.
Leaves a green footprint
Being a good steward of Mother Earth and all her resources is more important than ever. When your filter is dirty and causing your system to work harder since it’s stressed, a lot of carbon monoxide and other greenhouse gasses by extension are being released into the atmosphere. HVAC systems nowadays are designed to run efficiently, in an eco-friendly manner, so you’ll be doing your part just by changing your filter.
Even if you are renting as a tenant of the home, it sure helps you to keep the HVAC filters clean so that you enjoy a better quality of life while helping the environment.