3 Reasons to Have Air Filters in Your Family Home. There are a lot of important systems that every home needs to have; there is the electrical system, the plumbing system, and, of course, the HVAC system. All of them are necessary to make a home comfortable and livable. The importance of the electrical and plumbing systems are obvious as they bring power and water into the home. The HVAC system is just as vital but it actually does a lot more than just making the air hotter or cooler.
The HVAC system is also important in keeping the air in your home clean and free of allergens and pollutants. The part of your HVAC system that is responsible for that task is the air filter, which makes it one of the most important parts of the entire home. That means the air filter needs to be carefully monitored and that changing the air filters should be done regularly. Air filters can be acquired from both physical and online stores and they are very affordable so it is easy to change the air filter when the time comes.
Why it’s Important
The air filter has a big impact on the air quality of the home as well as the energy output of the HVAC system. It is important to the air quality because it traps and filters harmful allergens and pollutants that can affect sensitive individuals. The level of filtration depends on the MERV rating of the filter. MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value and shows you how good the filter is at removing particulates from the air; the higher the number, the more efficient the filter.
MERV ratings go from 1 to 16 and most homes can use filters in the 6 to 8 range. Homes where the inhabitants have respiratory problems like asthma may need more protection, so those homes could use higher quality air filters in the 10 to 12 range. Air filters are also important when it comes to the energy consumption in the home. If the air filter is dirty, then the HVAC unit has to work harder to push air through it, which uses more energy. A clean air filter makes the HVAC unit run more efficiently and use less energy. So in the long run you may be avoiding damages to you whole HVAC system. Nontheless it’s important to have your HVAC covered by your home warranty along with all other appliances in your house.
When to Change Your Air Filter
In general air filters should be changed every two or three months. However, the more efficient air filters will need to be changed about every month because they trap more particulate matter and therefore get dirty a lot quicker. It is easy to change the air filter and no professional help is needed to do so. First you need to turn off the HVAC system, then you need to find where the primary air vent is located in your home. Once you do, you just open the vent, remove the old filter, replace it with the new filter, close the vent, and turn on the HVAC system again. The whole process only takes about five minutes and no tools are necessary.
The Most Important Parts of The Home
The air filter performs a lot of vital functions in the home, which is why it is so important that every home has one in their HVAC system. That is because the air filter helps to keep the air in the home clean and is vital in making the HVAC system run more efficiently. So make sure that your home has an air filter and that it is replaced when it gets dirty. That will make everyone in the home breathe a whole lot easier.
