A lot of products have been made available to help us in increasing our indoor air quality while keeping comfort levels relatively high and energy consumption and bills low. But the need to hire an expert HVAC contractor to install these products may be significantly decreased if we know how to properly take care of our HAVC systems.
One thing we can do is to make sure we install the correct and proper air filter for our systems. Installing the right air filter will definitely help you save money and energy. It can also help in avoiding expensive and inconvenient breakdowns and malfunctions and it may extend the longevity and effectivity of your HVAC system. It will also help you tone down your energy consumption which in turn lowers your electricity bills. Installing the right filter is not a guarantee that your HVAC system will function at its best. Despite having the best air filter installed, may still occur. It is for this reason that keeping track of your filter’s cleanliness and maintenance is very important. Thanks to the new technologies that come with HVAC systems, it is quite easy to do so, due to the fact that most air filters are disposable.
Change the filter immediately if:
- The filter is damaged. Whether it happened inside the packaging or while being installed, a damaged filter that has bent fins, collapsed cells or holes will not work as well as an undamaged filter, especially if it allows system air to bypass the filter at any point.
- The filter is damp. A filter affected by moisture intrusion, system condensation, or even high indoor humidity can quickly become moldy and spread airborne mold spores throughout the home via the ventilation system.
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There are also inexpensive ones but we must remember that when looking for filters, we must keep in mind that we must consider quality (not only price). Inexpensive filters may not be that good in removing pollutants in the air. These pollutants may result in health problems and more expensive happenings. Problems that could mean you’re using the wrong air filter or you are not changing it regularly include high utility bills, low indoor air quality, and an uncomfortable home.
An air filter is designed to extract pollutants (e.g., dust, dirt, mold, pollen, etc.). When filters don’t do their job, the result is poor indoor air quality. Poor indoor air quality is something that experts fear as it can create many health hazards.
If you can’t find your manufacturer’s specifications on what kind of filter to purchase, you can easily see what size you have already, and buy one based off of that. Finding where your filter is on your furnace or air conditioner shouldn’t be too hard. Here are a few tips:
- Turn your HVAC unit off before doing any maintenance. You don’t want it kicking on while you’re changing out the filter, or taking off panels.
- Determine where your filter is by looking at the ductwork. If you’re looking at your furnace, they all work essentially the same way: Air is brought in from outside, blown through a filter and heated, and then pumped through your home:
These contaminants may cause asthma and allergies, headaches, skin rashes, and other health problems that may disrupt your comfort. This will also mean that you will also need to dust and vacuum more often because your home will have more dirt and dust.
Too much exposure to mold can cause headaches, migraines and other health problems. It is for this reason that HVAC maintenance service visit and repairs can ensure that airflow through your HVAC systems is actually working and will not impose harm on your health.
To learn how to improve indoor air quality check this video out: