The Importance of Changing Your Air Filter as Allergy Season Hits
Springtime is beautiful, but with blossoms and budding leaves comes allergy season. As the pollen starts to fly, anyone with allergies would prefer to stay indoors. Ideally, your HVAC air filter will quickly remove any motes of pollen that drift into the house. However, if your climate control system is poorly maintained or an air filter change hasn’t been done for a while, you could also be experiencing those allergy symptoms.
That is why replacing your HVAC filter is essential during Florida’s peak allergy season.
How Your HVAC’s Filter Impacts Indoor Air Quality
Your climate control system’s design ensures that clean and fresh air circulates throughout your home. The filter is essential in trapping dust, pollen, pet dander, mold spores, and other potential allergens that float through the air. Allergens from outdoors get in any time you enter or leave the home (and in gaps that might exist), and indoor allergens are just as crucial to filter.
Like any dust filter, it accumulates pollutant particles over time. Your filter isn’t just dusty; it’s packed with old pollen, allergens, and contaminants to keep those particles from circulating through the house. However, once the filter becomes clogged, it becomes less effective at filtering out pollen, and forcing air through it may even release old pollen (out-of-season allergens) back into your home.
Not to mention, a clogged HVAC filter blocks airflow, makes your HVAC work harder, and can increase your energy bill.
Benefits of an Air Filter Change During Allergy Season
Once allergy season begins, replacing your HVAC filter becomes more crucial than ever. Your filter plays a critical role in filtering fresh pollen out of the air so that your home provides a safe haven from the allergy symptoms you experience outdoors. An air filter change has several significant benefits during Florida’s abundant allergy season.
Reduces Allergens
Clean filters are more effective at trapping airborne allergens. This keeps allergens out of your home environment and can reduce your risk of allergy symptoms at home.
Improves Airflow
When your filter is fresh and unclogged, it allows the most efficient airflow through your HVAC system. This puts the least wear and tear on the fan, helping to optimize your home’s consistent temperature, comfort, and evenly distributed airflow.
Boosts HVAC Efficiency
A clean filter reduces stress on your climate control system by not pushing air through a clogged filter. It operates more efficiently, which makes it easier to keep your home comfortable while saving you money on energy costs.
Extends HVAC Lifespan
Regular air filter change minimizes system stress, maximize system cleanliness, and can prevent unnecessary long-term strain on your HVAC system. This reduces the risk of damage, breakdowns, and repairs while extending your system’s lifespan.
How Often Should You Replace Your HVAC Filter?
The optimal pace for your air filter change is every 1-3 months (30-90 days). During allergy season, increase that rate to ensure your home’s air stays clean. Switching your filter for new ones monthly and choosing a higher MERV rating (to catch smaller particles) can be essential, especially if you or others in your home have strong allergies.
It’s essential to replace your air filter regularly to improve the air quality in your home. Doing so is especially necessary if you have pets, smoke indoors, suffer from severe allergies, or have a respiratory condition. By changing the filter more frequently, you can effectively remove internal and external pollutants from the air circulating in your space.
Take Control of Your Indoor Air Quality
Your home should be an oasis from seasonal allergies. Mid-Fla Heating & Air can help you keep your HVAC in ship shape and your air quality clear of pollen with our routine maintenance services. It includes timely air filter replacements, indoor air quality solutions, and system tune-ups to ensure your HVAC gives you the best performance and allergy relief during this pollen-rich season.
Need help to choose the right filter or to schedule a maintenance check? Contact us today and breathe easier this allergy season!
