clean air filter next to a dirty air filter
March 21, 2023

Your HVAC is essential to keeping your Atlanta home comfortable throughout the year, but did you know that a clean air filter is crucial for its efficiency? Dirty air filters can make your air conditioner waste energy and cause comfort issues—not to mention increase your risk of needing extensive repairs down the road. 

At Anchor, we want to help keep your HVAC unit running smoothly, and understanding how to tell a clean vs dirty air filter is a part of that. This guide will provide information to know when to replace your AC filter, and the benefits it’ll bring to your home. 

Benefits of Replacing Air Filter

Standard air filters work to both clean the air you breathe and protect the inner workings of your HVAC system. When the air filter in your AC or furnace gets built up with dust and other particles, it will restrict airflow and put unnecessary strain on your HVAC. When those particles get inside of your heating and cooling system, it leads to problems like:

  • Jams in motors and valves

  • Costly repairs

  • Breakdowns

By changing your air filter on a regular schedule, you’ll extend the lifespan of your HVAC and improve its performance. With less dust and particles in your home’s air, you’ll also have increased indoor air quality, and more reliable home comfort. 

Signs You Need to Change Your Home Air Filter 

While most manufacturers suggest changing and air filter every 1-3 months, there are still many variables to consider like:

  • Type of HVAC and air filter

  • Pets

  • Allergies

  • HVAC use

With that said, you should visually inspect your air filter once a month for excess build up. If you can’t remember the last time you changed your air filter or suspect it needs to be changed, here are the signs to look for. 

Excessive Amounts of Dust

If you notice dust collecting around your vents or around your home, you may need air filter replacement. When dust accumulates, you may notice worsening allergy symptoms, and poor indoor air quality.

Air Filter Looks Dirty

While this is one of the more obvious signs you need to change your air filter, it is still important. When inspecting your air filter, also look for tears or other signs of damage. 

Increased Energy Bills

When airflow is restricted on your HVAC unit, it will work much harder than it should to keep your home at a consistent temperature. This can lead to expensive heating and cooling costs and even shorten the lifespan of your HVAC. 

Heating & Cooling is Not Working

If you notice that the air coming from your vents is not at the right temperature, or it’s taking longer to heat or cool a room, that could mean that your HVAC is having troubles with airflow. This drastically affects the efficiency of your system. 

HVAC Unit is Hot to the Touch

When your HVAC is working harder to maintain temperatures throughout your home, the unit itself will heat up. This overheating can lead to serious damage that results in extensive repairs. 

Keep You HVAC Clean With Maintenance

HVAC units are complicated systems, and air filter replacement is only part of the regular maintenance they require. Anchor makes thinking about AC maintenance easy with our EZ-Pay Program. Get peace of mind with benefits like:

  • 2 annual maintenance visits per year

  • 10% off repairs

  • 24 hour emergency services

Our team of experts at Anchor are thoroughly trained on HVAC equipment and we can help keep your systems running and even extend their life. Get started with our heating maintenance today.  

Schedule HVAC maintenance. Call (770) 942-2873 or contact us online.

Do you know when to replace your AC filter?

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