When Is It Time to Upgrade My Air Purification System’s Filter?
If you’re like a lot of Minnesotans, your air filter is just another one of those things that you perform maintenance on now and again and then forget about—like your water softener or your toilet. As HVAC contractors that double as indoor residential air quality experts, we’re here to encourage you to give it some serious thought! Your air filtration system is a key player in keeping your home free of allergens, mold, and even disease-causing bacteria. Without it, your family’s health could take a nosedive.
That being said, a less-than-efficient air purification filter can be just as bad as not having one at all. Many homes today have such a system, after all, be it auxiliary or built into a central HVAC system, and we at Furnace Doctors still get calls about poor residential indoor air quality!
Is your HVAC system’s air purification filter doing top-notch air quality control, or is it only perpetuating problems? As customer-focused providers of HVAC services and air purification help, we’re more than qualified to answer that question in detail.
Obvious Signs of a Bad Filter Fit
Your air filtration system has one job: to filter air. It must be fairly straightforward, right? Not quite! Every system is as unique as the home it serves, right down to the filter type—some filters are reusable, for example, while others are designed to eventually be thrown away.
To get a definite answer for your individual situation, you’ll need to schedule an appointment with well-trained HVAC contractors that understand air purification systems. Don’t know where to start? Furnace Doctors offers free quotes for our HVAC services and air purification help!
However, there are a few surefire signs that your HVAC system is in need of a filter upgrade:
● Your current filter has a low MERV rating. MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. In layperson’s terms, it tells you, on a scale from one to 16, how relatively good your filter is at removing airborne pollutants. If yours falls on the low end of the spectrum, it’s probably time to give it the boot (though keep in mind that a higher rating isn’t always better, too).
● You’re noticing allergy issues. Allergy sufferers are often the first to pick up on poor indoor residential air quality. If you or someone you love is experiencing unseasonal issues in this respect, the problem could lie in your air filter.
● Airborne pollutants aren’t being trapped. At the end of the day, the purpose of an air filter is to catch particles that would otherwise irritate you and your family. If you’re noticing anything from pet dander to mold to smog accumulating, you need a better filter to ensure your prolonged comfort.
Is Your Home Dusty?
If you’ve tried your best to bust the dust and you still can’t stay on top of things, you could need to upgrade or replace your HVAC system’s air filter. As we covered in our HVAC contractor blog, a filter that isn’t capturing enough pollutants is just blowing problematic particles around.
However, a poor fit isn’t the only reason that dust can begin to crop up. Filters need replacement or cleaning as they begin to become saturated with dander, pollen, and other debris. If you haven’t stayed on top of your maintenance schedule, it doesn’t necessarily mean that your current filter is a poor fit; it could mean that you aren’t changing it as frequently as is needed.
And how frequently is that? It varies. This Old House cites timeframes anywhere from every 30 days to every year, depending on the type of filter. It also states that your family’s lifestyle and needs will also play a role. We cover that topic in detail in our HVAC contractor blog.
Understand That a Poor Filter Fit Isn’t the Only Thing That Can Cause Poor Residential Indoor Quality
With all this talk of how a poor filter fit drags your air quality down, it’s important to remember that it’s not the only thing that can do so. Your residential indoor air quality is made up of a variety of factors, and just like we covered on our residential indoor air quality blog, an equal variety of things can be to its detriment.
Because HVAC systems are just that—systems—too, it can be tricky to pinpoint where exactly along the line things went wrong and why your home is suddenly so stuffy and gross. If you’re suddenly dealing with this, don’t be so quick to point your finger at your filter before getting your system a thorough checkup from a qualified HVAC services professional. They have a working knowledge of how different parts of your HVAC system interact with one another and can therefore quickly hone in on the problem.
Contact Furnace Doctors and Resolve Air Purification Problems in a Snap
Need to clear the air? Let Furnace Doctors help. From air filtration system services to whole house humidifier installation, we provide everything you need to create the pleasant home atmosphere you deserve. Give our Saint Paul Park office a call today at 651-789-3082.