Edmonton Real Estate Blog

Changing the filter of the home’s HVAC system is simple and inexpensive, and taking care of it at least every three months can mean the difference between optimum comfort and avoidable repairs.

Your HVAC technician should service your unit once a year.  Because a HVAC unit contains moving parts, it is important that belts are not cracked and dry, ventilation ductwork is not gapped, cracked or rusted, and components, such as coils and fans, are clog-free and adequately lubricated for unimpeded operation.  This sort of evaluation is best left to the professional, unless the homeowner has had the appropriate training. The filter of the unit, especially if it is an HVAC unit that will tend to get nearly year-round use, should be changed by the homeowner at least every three months, but possibly more often. Check your filter’s condition and change it once a month if:

You run your unit six months a year to year-round.

You have pets. Pet dander can become airborne and circulate through the home’s ventilation system just as typical household dust does.

You have a large family. More activity means more household dust, dirt and debris.

You or someone in your household suffers from allergies or a respiratory condition.

You live in a particularly windy area or experience high winds for extended periods, especially if there are no nearby shrubs or trees to provide a natural windbreak.

You live in an area prone to or having recently experienced any wildfires. Airborne ash outdoors will eventually find its way indoors.

You have a fireplace that you occasionally use.

You live on a working farm or ranch. Dust and dirt that gets kicked up by outdoor work activity and/or large animals can be pulled into the home’s ventilation system, especially through open windows.

You have a large garden. Depending on its size and how often you work it, tilling soil, planting, pulling weeds, using herbicides and pesticides, and even watering mean that dirt, chemicals and condensation can be pulled into your home’s ventilation system.

There is construction taking place around or near the home. You may be installing a new roof or a pool, or perhaps a neighbor is building a home or addition. Even if the activity is only temporary, dust and debris from worksites adjacent to or near the home can be sucked into the home’s ventilation system, and this increased activity can tax your HVAC system.
Tips for changing the filter:

Turn off the unit before replacing the filter.

Use the right filter for your unit and make sure it’s not damaged out of the package.

Follow the directions for your unit to make sure you’re installing the filter properly. For example, many filters use different colors for the front and back (or upstream and downstream flow) so that they’re not installed backwards.

Make sure there aren’t any gaps around the filter frame.  If this is the case, you may have the wrong size filter, or the filter itself may be defective or damaged.

Use a rag to clean up any residual dust before and after you replace the filter.

Securely replace any levers, gaskets and/or seals.

Turn the unit on and observe it while it’s operating to make sure the filter stays in place.

Note the date of filter replacement in a convenient location for the next time you inspect it.  A filter that becomes dirty enough to change within a short period may indicate a problem with the unit or ventilation system, so monitoring how often the filter requires changing is important information for your technician to have.

Source: Full Scope Inspections Newsletter

Tags: Home maintenance