For most people, autumn represents a reprieve from the grueling summer heat Pennsylvania is known for and gives them a chance to relax as the leaves begin to fall. Homeowners also see it as a time to turn their AC units off and give them a well-earned break before they switch over to their heating system for the winter.
However, to keep their home’s IAQ up and in a good position to keep their indoor environment as comfortable as possible, you need to take care of some crucial heating maintenance in Pittsburgh, PA, first — starting with your air filters.
Why is regularly changing your air filters vital to maintaining your IAQ? Is the fall really the best time to change? Mister Sewer, Plumbing, & HVAC has the answers you need.
How Dirty Air Filters Affect IAQ
The average homeowner may not know the term “IAQ,” but they do know the effects of what happens when it’s not where it should be. IAQ is short for “indoor air quality” and refers to the cleanliness of the air circulating throughout your home. Different airborne allergens, pet dander, dust, and more get dispersed throughout your home and cause allergy flare-ups, sickness, and more if left unchecked.
These issues can worsen when your air filters don’t get the care and attention they deserve. Air filters for your AC and heating systems catch dirt, dust, and other particulates throughout the year. Over time, this layer grows and accumulates more mass, making it more difficult for air to pass through your system as cleanly as possible.
Benefits of Regularly Changing Your Air Filters
Fresh air filters play a much larger role in how efficiently your heating functions than simply keeping the air clean. A dirty filter can cause your home’s system to work much harder than necessary as it tries to heat your entire home evenly.
Dirty and clogged components prevent the efficient transfer of heat from your main unit to the rest of your home. Your system will continue to run until it warms up every part of your home, causing it to overwork itself and potentially break down prematurely.
When you change out your air filters, you can potentially see a noticeable improvement in your energy efficiency and lower bills at the end of the month. With less resistance from the accumulated particulate matter on the filters, the warm air doesn’t have to work as hard to travel throughout your home, and your system doesn’t have to work as hard.
How Often Should You Change Your Air Filters?
When people become more aware of how much of a role air filters play in their home’s internal environment, they want to find out how often they should change them out. While it can change from home to home based on a wide range of factors, the general recommendation is to change them every three to four months. Some factors that can change that recommendation include:
- The type of air filter you have
- Owning any pets
- Suffering from severe allergies
- Having children
- Using the system every single day
Let Mister Sewer, Plumbing, & HVAC Help Keep Your Air Filters Clean!
Whether you change your filters every fall or want to get into a more regular routine, you need a company that can walk you through your heating maintenance needs. Mister Sewer, Plumbing, & HVAC has a sterling reputation for helping our customers identify where in their system they need the most help and help keep their systems running as smoothly as possible. Contact our team to learn more about our heating system maintenance services and how we can help today!