If you have an HVAC system for your Murrieta or Temecula home, you obviously want to do everything you can to keep your system healthy and your home comfortable. One of the most important parts of your HVAC system that you can maintain yourself is the air filter. While it’s a relatively simple task to fulfill, it’s something that many homeowners neglect to do. This can lead to issues with their home’s air quality or even damage to their HVAC unit. If you want to avoid having to pay for air conditioning repair, you’ll want to regularly replace and clean your air filter.

The air filter plays a key role in your HVAC system, keeping it clean and running efficiently. Filters are made from pleated fibers woven in a frame that filters the air as it flows through the HVAC system, cleaning your home’s air. The filter catches micro-organisms and bacteria, animal fur, lint, mold spores, pollen, and dust. Over time, the air filter will gradually be filled by this debris, preventing it from working properly until it has been cleaned. A clogged filter can impair the overall air quality inside your home and negatively affect your HVAC system. A clogged air filter will force your HVAC system to work harder to push air through the filter and thereby heat or cool your home, making it use more electricity to achieve the same results. This inefficient use can also cause your unit to suffer mechanical failures prematurely, thereby forcing you to contact an HVAC maintenance service to fix it.

Once your filter gets dirty, you obviously need to replace it. But you also need to remember to check it frequently so that you don’t let it run for too long in a dirty state. Inspecting your filter once a month is a good way to stay on top of it, but there are factors that can push you to check it more frequently. 

Your HVAC unit manufacturer will have a recommended replacement frequency, but other factors such as your city’s air quality, pets in the home, and residents with allergies will influence this decision as well. If you live alone and with no pets, you could actually get away with changing your air filter every six to twelve months. If you have pets or allergic residents in the house, however, you will probably want to change it every 20 to 45 days.

By changing your air filter, you can maintain the air quality of your home, ease the stress on your HVAC system, increase its longevity, and be more environmentally friendly. If you don’t replace it regularly, you may end up having your HVAC unit break down and you’ll be forced to hire an AC repair provider to fix it.

If a dirty air filter has caused your HVAC unit to work inefficiently and it’s in need of repairs, you can trust the HVAC maintenance experts at ProFlo to take care of it. We perform a wide range of AC repairs and air conditioning maintenance services. With a service area that covers Murrieta, Temecula, and the rest of the Inland Empire, we’re ready and eager to help you with your HVAC maintenance needs. If you’d like to learn more about our air conditioning repair services or schedule an appointment, give us a call at (951) 694-1300.