It's a good idea to change your furnace filters at least twice a year, and maybe more often, depending on variables like the type of filter, type of HVAC system, number of people and pets in your house, and so on. Most experts recommend checking your filter every month. Just looking at your old filter should tell you if it's dirty enough to need a change.
Regardless of how often you change out your filter, though, the beginning of autumn in Kansas is a good time to give it a switch, especially with the height of ragweed season having just started up. Besides ragweed, we have a lot of other seasonal allergens in Kansas, including grass, trees, mold, and others, and our filters may get an extra workout as summer winds to a close, making filter inspection especially important as we head into autumn and the beginning of the cool season.
Clean filters can help protect your family against seasonal allergens, pet dander, and other debris in the air, but there are other reasons beyond just indoor air quality to encourage you to consider changing your furnace filters regularly. In order for the filter to work, your HVAC system has to push all the air that it moves through the filter. That means that, as the filter becomes clogged with dirt and debris, the furnace has to work that much harder to circulate the air. That leads to a loss of efficiency and higher utility bills. A dirty filter can affect the efficiency of your HVAC system by as much as 15%.
Not only that, but it can lead to system malfunctions, as well. As airflow is restricted and the system works harder to compensate, you may experience overheating of system parts, which can result in shutdowns or other performance problems. It can even cause damage to your HVAC system, which costs a lot more in the long run than replacing a filter. And of course, if you do experience an unexpected shutdown or other system problem, it's going to happen on the coldest day or the year, or at some other, equally inopportune time.
The bottom line is that the cleaner your air filter is, the more efficiently your HVAC system will run, and the better your air quality will be. With asthma-causing agents and seasonal allergens in the air, changing one little filter can have a big impact on your family's health and quality of life. And anytime the seasons change, it's a good idea to check out your furnace and HVAC system before they kick on for the first time, to make sure that everything is ship shape. Or better yet, have them inspected by a licensed provider of Olathe heating and furnace repair services, to be certain that your family is kept warm and safe this autumn.
Founded in 1980, Davenport Service Company has provided "Customer First" service in Johnson County, Kansas for over three decades. We provide 24/7 emergency service, preventive maintenance service, and seasonal tune-ups for commercial and residential heating and air conditioning systems. If you're looking for a furnace tune-up in Olathe, call 913-441-2222 for hassle-free scheduling today!
