Did you know that the filter on your furnace has a major impact on how your furnace can operate, as well as your indoor air quality? It’s true. Selecting the right type of filter and changing it out on time each month is one of the best ways to take care of your furnace and improve your indoor air quality.
When you do experience furnace problems, you can give our team a call to schedule furnace repair in High Springs, FL. In the meantime, you can keep reading to learn more about why your furnace air filter is so important and how you can maximize its efficiency.
Elevating Indoor Air Quality
One of the primary purposes of an air filter is to capture dust and dirt so those particles cannot filter through your HVAC system and continue blowing into your home. The air filter helps to improve your indoor air quality to some degree.
Keep in mind that the rating on your air filter will have a lot to do with the types of particles it captures. A higher rated filter will capture more particles, while a filter with a lower rating will not capture as much. HVAC air filters can only be so strong before they begin to block airflow entering the system. If you want additional help with indoor air quality, we encourage you to consider a whole-house air purifier.
Protecting Your Heater
An HVAC air filter has another job, too. It also protects the inside of your heater from the same dust and dirt particles that it’s keeping from your air. Dust and dirt may be tiny–sometimes so tiny you can’t see the specks – but these particles can get in between gears and dry up lubrication. Dirt can also create a layer within the combustion chamber or around heating elements that poses a fire hazard.
If a layer of dirt gets too thick, it can interfere with the safety sensors inside of your furnace that help to ensure proper operation. If your air filter gets too clogged with dirt, some of those particles may begin to seep through the filter and get into the heater. Your unit may begin to malfunction as a result. It can be hard to believe that such tiny particles can have such a big impact, but they really do.
Optimizing Airflow
When the air filter is changed out regularly, it allows enough airflow into the heater for air to be warmed up and blown into your home. But if the air filter gets too full, it can block airflow and stop your heater from being able to work. The intake area where the air filter is located is the single source of clean air coming into your heater.
When it is blocked because of a clogged filter, your heater may shut down before completing a heating cycle. The unit is working against the strain of poor airflow flow. When you replace the filter on time, you eliminate this problem. Be sure to check the packaging and see how long a filter is rated to last. Most will last for somewhere between one and three months.
It’s a good idea to write down the date that you installed it and then set a reminder for a little while before you need to change it out again. We also encourage you to buy more than one filter at a time so you have several on hand for when they are needed. If the air filter gets particularly full, it’s a good idea to go ahead and change it out a little early so your heater can work at its best.
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