Your home HVAC system keeps your air cool and livable, but it also serves another important function: it circulates air through your home. As the air circulates, it passes through an air filter, which catches minute particulates – dust, dander, and other contaminants – and removes them from the air, improving your indoor air quality.

The filters installed in air conditioners and furnaces have one minor maintenance task associated with them, however: You should change the air filter in these systems regularly, generally once a month or once every other month. Here’s why:

• When an air filter becomes clogged, air has a harder time passing through. This means that the fan on your HVAC system has to work harder to circulate air (and generally won’t do as good a job of it), increasing your energy costs and putting strain on the fan motor. This strain can cause the motor to wear out more quickly, resulting in higher maintenance and repair costs.
• With poorer circulation, conditioned air has a harder time making it to all areas of your house, and home comfort can suffer.
• If air isn’t circulating well, it isn’t being carried to the filter to be cleaned. Because homes tend to concentrate pollutants – well-sealed homes more than most – this means that the major source of air cleaning in your home won’t be working. This lowers indoor air quality, and can impact your long-term health.

Fortunately, air filters are inexpensive and easy to install, and a wide range of air filters exist to meet your air quality needs. If you have any questions about how to change the air filter on your HVAC equipment, or how to improve air quality in your Texas home, contact us at JD’s A/C. We’re proud to serve Longview and neighboring communities.