DB Heating & Cooling, Inc. Blog : Posts Tagged ‘Air Filter’

Why is a Clean Air Filter So Important?

Monday, January 16th, 2017

When you live in a climate such as ours that is stuffy hot during the summer and bitterly cold in the winter months, you tend to rely pretty heavily on your HVAC systems—both heating and cooling. However, too many homeowners fail to give their central furnaces and air conditioners the attention that they really need in order to perform at their best.

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Air Conditioning Repair Tip: Why Change the Air Filter

Friday, April 18th, 2014

An air conditioner needs annual maintenance, consisting of an inspection and tune-up, for it to run efficiently and effectively during the year. It takes the knowledge of an HVAC professional to perform maintenance, so you should seek out a maintenance program from a trusted contractor to handle this task for you each year.

You can take a few maintenance steps on your own. One of the most important is to regularly change the air filter on your air conditioner; you might need to do it as often as once a month during the summer. We’ll explain why this is such a crucial step. (If you don’t know the location of the air filter for your system, ask a repair technician.) If you need air conditioning repair in Bergen County, NJ because of air filter troubles, call on DB Heating & Cooling—any time of the day or night!

Why replacing the air filter is necessary

  • To prevent debris contamination: The air filter is located where the return air vent brings in air from inside the house to circulate through the AC. Dust, lint, pollen, dander, hair, and larger particles like gravel can come with this air. If these pollutants get inside the air conditioner’s cabinet, they will cause damage leading to inefficient operation and eventually repair needs. Dust can cause motors to run down and evaporator coils to ice over, while large contaminants can bend fan blades. If the air filter becomes too clogged with the objects it traps, it can develop damage that will allow the debris to get inside.
  • To maintain airflow: As the filter catches more debris, it will start to slow down the airflow into the air conditioner. A thick clog can choke off the flow to almost nothing. Even minor clogging will restrict flow enough that the AC will need to work harder, and this will cause a drain on power. You will notice a spike on your energy bills as the filter becomes congested.

A bit more on filter change frequency

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, you should change the filter every 1–3 months depending on the type of AC, where you live, the time of year, and how much you use the system. During the summer, when you run the air conditioner frequently, you should change the filter every month. During cooler seasons, you can lower the frequency, although make regular checks to see how fast the debris builds up.

Regular maintenance will help you with this task, since your technician will detect how quickly the filter clogs up. (Changing the filter is part of a maintenance visit.) To sign up for the maintenance plan at DB Heating & Cooling, or to schedule air conditioning maintenance in Bergen County, NJ, call one of our staff members today.

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Heating in Emerson: Why Change Air Filters Regularly

Monday, September 23rd, 2013

Most furnaces and air conditioning units are equipped with air filters, working to keep dust and debris out of the system. Heating in Emerson and other New Jersey towns is no laughing matter; our cold winters demand a reliable means of making your house warm and comfortable. Regular maintenance and upkeep are as much a part of that equation as buying a furnace in the first place, and you can’t perform maintenance without addressing your air filters. Why change air filters regularly?

The air filter’s primary job is to keep dirt and dust out of your furnace. That extends the life of the furnace immeasurably, preventing wear and tear in the system and keeping the various components functioning at peak efficiency. Over time, the filter becomes clogged with all that dust and debris, which reduces its effectiveness. More dust starts to build up in the furnace, more components are affected, wear and tear increases, and the furnace has to work harder to do its job. That results in higher monthly energy bills, as well as increasing the chance of a component malfunction that will cost a great deal to repair. Furthermore, when an air filter becomes clogged, it can restrict the flow of air though the system, reducing your heater’s ability to warm your house and again raising your monthly heating bill.

It doesn’t have to be that way. Changing your air filter’s regularly ensures that your system stays free of dirt and dust, prolonging its life and keeping it working as it should. Most filters are comparatively inexpensive and can be purchased at any home supply store. Look for filters with a high MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) rating, which indicates their effectiveness. (MERV ratings usually range between 1 and 11.)

Changing the filter should come as part of a professional maintenance program, with scheduled visits from a trained specialist. He or she can examine your furnace for faulty parts, clean any dust or dirt which has gotten through the filter, and identify potential problem spots for repairs before they become too large. That ensures your unit will provide the most effective heating. In Emerson, NJ, contact the experts at DB Heating & Cooling. They can set up a schedule for you to augment your efforts to change your air filters regularly.

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