As the filter increasingly traps natural particulate pollution from your home: dust, mold and fungal spores, pet dander, fabric fibers, etc., it is important to change your air filter regularly. Without a clean air filter, your HVAC unit works harder and is prone to more breakdowns. Compared to other DIY home improvement projects, changing air filters is a quick and painless process that can be done in less than an hour. However, many homeowners are unaware of how often air filters need to be replaced, leaving their system vulnerable to damage.
Read on to find out when and how to change your air filter. The frequency with which the engine air filter will need to be replaced varies. Maintenance schedules for different vehicle brands differ in how often the air filter needs to be changed. On most Chevrolet engines, for example, the recommended change interval is every 45,000 miles, but Ford says it should be done every 30,000 miles on many of its engines.
Hyundai also says every 30,000 miles, but shortens it to 15,000 for “severe driving conditions, including heavy traffic in hot climates and frequent driving on unpaved roads or dusty conditions. Unfortunately, most homeowners forget to change air filters for several months. This can lead to significant increases in energy bills and other maintenance costs, as well as health problems for home occupants. An air cleaner is one of the most economical maintenance components to replace, and you can do it yourself.
In newer fuel-injected cars, the air filter is usually located near the top front or side of the engine, next to the throttle body. After analyzing in detail how often the air filter needs to be changed, it is important to know which type of air filter is ideal for your needs. If an air filter becomes dirty and clogged, not only will it become completely ineffective at trapping unpleasant air particles, but it could worsen the overall air quality in your home. A particle as small as a grain of salt can pass through a damaged air filter and cause a lot of damage to internal engine parts, such as cylinders and pistons, which can be very costly to repair.
Regardless of the exact numbers, a clean air filter obviously improves airflow to the engine and increases engine performance and fuel consumption. AC simply refers to air conditioning, while HVAC refers to heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. The ideal is to change your air filter every three months; however, there are certain factors to consider when determining when to change an old filter. In addition, changing a clogged air filter can increase acceleration by 6 to 11 percent in modern fuel-injected cars. If you live in a “smaller house” your air conditioners and ovens need to pump less air for the same amount of temperature change which could mean fewer filter changes. Invented in 1902 by Willis Carrier, air filters work by transferring unwanted components in the air from indoor to outdoor spaces.
Most residential homes can accommodate air cleaners up to MERV 13; however you may want to consult with a professional HVAC technician before using anything other than MERV 9.Simply put if you have poor air quality outside and inside your home you will need to replace the air filter more often. So why is it so important to keep up with your oven filters? Here are six reasons why you should change your air filter regularly:
- It improves airflow
- It increases engine performance
- It improves fuel consumption
- It prevents damage from small particles
- It improves indoor air quality
- It reduces energy bills
