Why is the Filter Important in my HVAC System?

Like most other things in life, your HVAC system needs preventative maintenance to run safely and efficiently. Besides getting a yearly clean and check to make sure everything is in working order, there is a simple thing you should be doing each month. You should be changing your filter. The filter is in place to catch dirt, dust, and debris from getting into your motors and other sensitive areas of your HVAC system keeping. This keeps them from getting damaged and breaking down. The filter also catches pollutants in the homes air so that you aren’t breathing them in. Some homes should change the filters more often than others because of various things like having a lot of pets or having people that smoke in the house. The filter gets clogged more easily in situations like theses. There are different ratings on them called MERV ratings. The higher the number the more fine particulates it catches. You home should use a MERV between 8-13. A MERV of 8 is a low end filter that will work but if you have asthma or allergies we recommend a MERV of 11 is good for you. The highest MERV you should use in your home is 13 but can also restrict your HVAC systems air flow. MERV rating over 13 is typically hospital grade and not made for your home. Like stated before the higher number is not always the best. If the filter is restricting air flow it will cause issues with your system. You can fix that by using a lower MERV number. Making sure you change the filter every month is important because a dirty filter will restrict air flow and also allow dirt and dust to get into your sensitive HVAC parts which can lead to damage. While it is recommended to change your filter every 30-60 days each home is different. If your filter gets dirty sooner than 30 days then change it. If the filter is still OK after 30 days then give it some more time but always make sure you are checking it. If you have not have your annual clean and check call Bartlett Heating and Air and we can do that for you!