{"id":592,"date":"2018-12-17T11:00:38","date_gmt":"2018-12-17T16:00:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.acguyoftampa.com\/blog\/?p=592"},"modified":"2018-12-12T15:22:17","modified_gmt":"2018-12-12T20:22:17","slug":"steps-change-hvac-air-filter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.acguyoftampa.com\/blog\/heating-service\/steps-change-hvac-air-filter\/","title":{"rendered":"Steps to Change Your HVAC Air Filter"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"air-fliter-cu\"Taking care of both your air conditioning and heating in Tampa, FL<\/a> requires ensuring you have a clean air filter for the HVAC system. This applies during the winter as much as any other time of the year. It\u2019s true that our heating systems don\u2019t see much use, even during the winter, because of the Florida climate. However, in the majority of homes, the heating system shares the same air filter with the cooling system. (A furnace\/AC combination or a heat pump.) Regardless of which one is running, it must have a clear filter free from clogs to allow it to work effectively and efficiently. To ensure this is the case, you must change the air filter for a new one every 1 to 3 months throughout the year.<\/p>\n

A Reminder About the Job of the Air Filter<\/h2>\n

Before we go into the steps for changing your HVAC system\u2019s air filter, we want to remind you what this filter does and why it\u2019s important. It isn\u2019t an indoor air quality filter, although it does remove a small number of pollutants from circulating through the house. What it does is protect the HVAC system\u2019s interior from dust and other debris.<\/p>\n

The blower of the HVAC system draws air from the house through return air ducts, and this air contains debris from the interior. The filter stops these particles from passing into the HVAC cabinet so they don\u2019t dirty up motors and refrigerant coils, leading to damage and inefficient operation. The filter doesn\u2019t clean out itself, so eventually, the dust and lint and other particles will clog it up. When this happens, the blower motor must work harder to draw air, and this will lead to higher energy bills and extra wear and tear. A clogged filter will also begin to distort against the air pressure, allowing debris to get past it around the sides. Depending on the filter strength, it will be congested enough to need to be changed within 1 to 3 months of operation.<\/p>\n

Changing the Filter<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s not difficult to put in a new filter. We\u2019ll go through the steps here, although you can always ask your HVAC technician to show you how during fall and spring maintenance. (Putting in a new filter is part of professional maintenance.)<\/p>\n