Signs You Need to Upgrade Your Filtration System
The filter in your HVAC system removes pollutants, such as pollen, that enter your home from outside. This filtration allows cleaner air to pass through the HVAC system. However, if the air filtration is inadequate, then more pollutants can get through and then return to each room through the vents.
An inadequate filter system may be unable to remove the specific pollutants in your home, so smaller particles pass right through the filter. Alternatively, it may not be the right size for your home, so it clogs easily, given the amount of pollutants it’s trying to filter out.
No matter the cause, if the filtration system isn’t working properly, your home’s air quality will suffer. If you’ve noticed any of the following issues, you could have a filtration system in need of an upgrade.
What does poor indoor air quality look like?
- Your AC filter clogs up very quickly: If there are too many pollutants in the air, that could lead to the filter itself clogging up much more quickly than it should. The AC then starts working harder to pull in air, leading to some pollutants getting past the edges of the filter.
- Your home’s energy use is abnormally high: If you notice your bills have become excessive considering your actual use, then something is drawing too much power. That could be your HVAC system as it works harder to pull air in through the clogged filter.
- The system is simply old: If your HVAC system is going on 15 to 20 years old, it’s time to upgrade to a more energy-efficient system.
- You find more dust in the ducts: Not all of the dust, pollen, and so on that gets past the filters end up back in the air. Some of the debris drifts through the ductwork, resulting in a dusty coating that sticks around the vents.
- The air in your home seems stale: If opening doors and windows has only a tiny effect on the general air quality in your home, you need to take a look at your filtration system.
- You notice more frequent allergy symptoms or asthma attacks: If you’ve had an uptick in symptoms or attacks, your home’s filtration system needs help.
