To Think About - Filters

>  Filters are important to your HVAC system – they keep your house clean –they make the air in your home better to breathe – and they keep a lot of dust out of your furnace / Air conditioning / Heat Pump system. Many of our service calls are due to problems caused by dust, dirt and reduced airflow to your system.

> We had several calls last year where the customer called in and couldn’t find their filter.  That’s because they had forgotten to change the filter for quite some time. The filter was so packed with dirt and dust that it stopped the airflow, which caused negative pressure, and was sucked into the blower motor. Their filter was shredded and wrapped around the blower wheel. In some instances, this caused the blower motor to be damaged or overheat. So instead of just needing a new filter, they ended up with a costly blower motor replacement.

> You could be harming your system by installing too good of a filter. Some filters that are designed for allergy control may decrease airflow to the point that they can cause your system to overheat because reduced airflow. As those filters catch the particles they can plug up faster and due to the thickness of the filter – they may need to be replaced more often. You may be overspending and getting less for your money.

> If your system uses one of the newer 4 inch filters that only need to be changed once a year, be sure that you change it once a year. Mark your calendar with the replacement date. Pushing one of these filters past the year mark can cause damage to your system.

> Set your calendar on your smartphone to remind you of when to change your filters. Most calendars have a recurring event function. 

>Whole house humidifiers help your filters to work better. By taming down static electricity – dust will stick to your filter better and keep your air and house cleaner.

> The cheap, spun fiberglass filters are not really recommended. If you do choose to use them, faithfully change them every month. They are not designed to go longer.. The white, pleated 1 inch filters are much effective and can be safely used for 2 months under normal conditions. 

> If you are doing construction, sanding floors or drywall, or removing and installing carpet, you may need to change your filter more often. Dust and suspended particles shorten the life of your filter drastically.