We’re typing this blog with clear eyes and happy lungs. Know why? Because we recently changed our air filters and it feels. So. Good. These rectangles of synthetic fibers are a godsend when it comes to keeping your indoor air clean. They prevent dust buildup, help with allergies, lower your energy bills, and ensure your HVAC isn’t overworking itself. If you’re wondering whether it’s time to change your own home air filters, we’ll cover the big indicators in this blog.
Increased Allergy or Respiratory Symptoms
Allergies can make or break someone’s day, week, month, etcetera. To those who don’t have severe allergies, it may sound like a mere inconvenience, but when your eyes won’t stop itching and watering and your nose keeps running, you simply can’t remain productive or enjoy what life has to offer. If you’re experiencing these issues within your own home, it’s probably time for an air filter change. It’s not just about itchy eyes and runny noses, though. Symptoms can include:
- Sneezing and coughing
- Irritated eyes
- Asthma flare-ups
- General respiratory discomfort
When your face feels fresh and you’re not struggling through allergy attacks, you’ll be thanking us!
Dust Buildup Around Vents and Furniture
So it’s only been a day or two since you cleaned, and dust has already started to settle—especially in the areas around vents and furniture. What gives? Shouldn’t that dust be swept away by your vents? Well, yes, and if it isn’t, you should probably check your home air filters. If they’re dirty, you’ll notice an alarming amount of dust on vent covers, furniture, and shelves. On top of that, the air itself may not be completely clear and a musty smell could be lingering.
Higher Energy Bills
Okay, so maybe you don’t have any allergies to think of. How are your energy bills looking, though? Even if you’re totally fine with the air quality in your home (despite the signs), clogged air filters mean air isn’t flowing through them as easily as it should. Know what that means? Your system is overworking itself trying to keep up, translating to unnecessarily high electric bills. So, if you notice any of the following, it’s definitely time for an air conditioner filter replacement:
- Sudden or inexplicable increase in the costs of utilities
- Suspiciously frequent cycling or running of your system
- HVAC is straining to maintain the temperature you set your thermostat to
You Can’t Remember the Last Time You Changed It
Maybe your system isn’t showing alarming signs of struggle. Maybe your allergies are fine or at least manageable. And maybe you aren’t seeing much dust buildup. That’s all well and good, but take a moment to think about the last time you changed your home air filters. Was it more than six months ago? Over a year ago? Can you even remember?
If you truly can’t recall when you last performed an air filter change, it’s time to, well, change that. Sure, you may not be experiencing the issues we’ve discussed above to a severe degree, but they’re there. It’s more of a situation in which you don’t know what you’re missing out on:
- Your electric bill is fine, but it could be even lower.
- Your allergies aren’t crippling you, but they may be present enough to hinder your comfort without you realizing it.
- Dust in your home may not be visible, but it’s there.
We often equate this to going to the eye doctor. Many people don’t realize how bad their vision truly is until they take an eye exam. And once they put those prescription lenses on for the first time, they realize how much better everything is now.
Most home air filters need to be replaced every 1 to 3 months. This depends on factors such as filter type, system usage, how many pets you have, and how severe your allergies are. When you don’t perform an air conditioner filter replacement frequently enough, you could be dealing with any combination of the issues we’ve already discussed.
An Air Filter Change Can Lead to Total Home Comfort
Regular replacement of your home air filters is a tough thing to remember, despite the simplicity of the task itself, and it can all too easily fall by the wayside in your long list of housekeeping chores. But if you get into a good habit of performing an air filter change on a frequent enough basis (every 1–3 months), your home comfort can skyrocket. Your allergies will be under control, dust won’t build up in your spaces, and your energy bills won’t send you into panic mode.
Set reminders on your phone to make sure this habit takes hold. If you want to take it a step further, sign up for the Holtzople Comfort Club. With regular service calls, home air filters are one of the first things we check! Get in touch and learn more today!