| Your home's heating and cooling system is an | | | | block the mesh. If a filter is dirty and blocked, |
| expensive necessity for any homeowner. The | | | | your system will not be able to get enough air |
| monthly service bills can be pricey and it can cost | | | | and will run incorrectly. The system will work |
| thousands of dollars for a full system | | | | harder to heat or cool your home, costing you |
| replacement. However, a well maintained furnace | | | | more money in monthly service bills. Running your |
| unit could last many years. The key to an | | | | system with a blocked filter can also cause |
| efficient heating and air conditioner system is the | | | | damage that can only be repaired by a service |
| regular replacement of the air filter. | | | | technician, costing you an even greater expense |
| The heating and cooling filter should be changed | | | | that could have been avoided by simply changing |
| once a month in a typical home. You may need | | | | the filter. |
| to change it more often if there is a lot of dust | | | | To further make sure your heating and air |
| present or have pets that shed. You can check | | | | conditioning system runs efficiently, you should |
| the furnace filter ever few weeks until you get a | | | | not only change the filter regularly, but also |
| sense of how quickly it gets dirty and needs to | | | | schedule a regular system inspection. Usually, full |
| be replaced. | | | | unit inspection should be done every one to two |
| In many heating and air conditioning units, the filter | | | | years by an experienced heating and cooling |
| can usually be found over the air intake grill. | | | | service technician. Ducts should be cleaned every |
| Simply open the grill and replace the old filter with | | | | 5 to 7 years and other components of the unit |
| the new one. Air filters come in many sizes to | | | | should be cleaned as well to keep your system |
| accommodate the wide array of furnaces, so be | | | | operating smoothly. |
| sure to have bought the correct size filter for | | | | Replacing the air filter is an essential first step you |
| your system. | | | | can take to be certain your heating and air |
| You can see why an air filter is important if you | | | | conditioning system runs properly. Make sure you |
| compare a used one with a new one. On a new | | | | stick to your monthly requirement to change the |
| filter, you'll notice a mesh that allows air to freely | | | | filter by setting a specific date. You can schedule |
| flow into the heating and cooling unit as it screens | | | | it the same time you check batteries in smoke |
| out dust and particles from entering the system. | | | | alarms or do other routine household safeguarding. |
| Upon examining a used filter, you'll see how the | | | | With regular maintenance, your heating and cooling |
| debris builds up over time and can completely | | | | system can last a lifetime. |