Heating system maintenance for your Rhode Island home is important throughout the year—not just in the winter. One of the easiest ways to maintain your oil-fired furnace is to keep up with changing—or cleaning—your air filters. Whether you clean yours or replace it depends on which kind you have, but either way, most filters need to be changed every one to three months.
This may sound like overkill, but the reality is that your furnace will not deliver the comfort you deserve if it is not properly cared for. In fact, running an oil-fired furnace an air filter that’s clogged with fur, dust or other particles will lead to several other problems for you and the people in your household. Here’s a look at the issues that result from air filters that go ignored for too long.
Unfiltered air can bypass a dirty air filter. In addition, pollutants can get into your ductwork, which means they will eventually enter your home.
If your HVAC system has old or dirty filters, your comfort will come at a higher price—literally. Forcing air through a dirty, dusty air filter takes more energy than pushing it through a clean filter. Diminished airflow leads to higher bills, but an air filter that is properly cared for will prevent this.
When your furnace has an old or dirty filter, the extra energy it’s exerting translates to decreased efficiency for your system. This ultimately means your furnace has to work harder to keep you warm. You’ll see this reflected in your bill, but it’s an easy problem to solve.
Here’s the good news: Air filters are fairly inexpensive, and quite easy to switch out. And if your just requires being cleaned, then you don’t even have to purchase a new one. Caring for your air filter does not require a technical background, but of course, we are happy to help should you have a question! Let us know how we can help.
