Why you need regular filter replacement

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In this article, we will answer air purifier maintenance questions like how often do you need to change your filters and why you should regularly replace them. Whether it's air purifiers, water filters, or your furnace filter; it is important to change your filters regularly to get the most of your products for indoor air quality or water quality.

In this article, we will summarize the recommended frequency of when you should change your filters based on products we sell and service. Please keep in mind that certain products may differ in recommended replacement dates, and you should consult the owner's manual for exact instructions.

HVAC System Furnace Filter Replacement

Starting with the most common of filters; the furnace filter is underrated for its importance in helping protect your furnace and air conditioner's lifespan. As much as we try, we can't stop various types of dust and particulates from entering our home and HVAC system. Pleated air filters are the defense of your HVAC system, without them, particulates would negatively affect the furnace's delicate parts and clog the air conditioner A-Coil, which reduces the efficiency and heating or cooling capabilities of your equipment. A particulate blocked A-coil also commonly becomes a breeding ground for mold growth.

Clean Replacement Furnace Filter

Dirty and Old Furnace Filter

We recommend replacing your air filter every 30 days with an inexpensive furnace filter. If 30 days is too inconvenient for you, consider every 90 days with a slightly more expensive filter. We encourage every month because regular replacement will make sure airflow is never constrained and your HVAC unit and continues to run smoothly. If you allow the furnace filter to become neglected and clogged for extended periods of time, your furnace or air conditioner will have to work harder and this may reflect on energy bills increasing.

Furnace Mounted HEPA Air Purifier Filter Replacement

Furnace air filters (from pleated to fiberglass filters) are designed to protect your furnace, whereas furnace HEPA systems are designed to capture particulates without restricting the airflow of your furnace. These systems are effective in reducing the general particulate count that cycles throughout your ductwork and home.

Filter Replacement: Most furnace HEPA systems consist of two filters; the pre-filter and the HEPA filter. In this situation, high-quality HEPA systems like the Platinum TrueHEPA require the pre-filter to be replaced once per year, and the HEPA to be replaced every 3 years.

Portable Air Purifier Filter Replacement

This category is broader because many air purifiers on the market differ greatly. For the recommended replacement dates of your specific product, please consult the owner's manual. The recommended replacement also can vary based on usage, and the environment it is used it.

Higher areas of pollution (many pets, smokers, or chemical usage) increase the frequency of how often you should change these filters. To simplify this as best as we can, general cleaning, maintenance, and replacement of filters usually follow as the following:

Ultra-Violet Light Replacement: While not a filter, it is an important feature if your air purifier has it. Ultra-violet lights should be replaced every year to maintain maximum effectiveness.

Pre-Filter Cleaning: This important filter is a permanent filter and does not need to be replaced, only cleaned and vacuumed regularly. The pre-filter reduces large particulates that would otherwise be caught in the electronic cell or HEPA filter (which is just a waste of use, as those filters should be reserved for smaller particulates). We recommend cleaning the pre-filter every month to every three months depending on the build-up of particulates.

Carbon Filter Replacement: We recommend the replacement of the Carbon Filter every six months. Consider every three months in smoking environments or other areas of high pollutants.

Electronic Cell Cleaning: This permanent filter only needs cleaning, compared to replacing this saves a considerable amount of money over time. We recommend cleaning every six months as the minimum, for maximum effectiveness clean more often. If you have an electronic air purifier such as the RPS 600S and want us to do the work for you, we offer many maintenance plans in South Western Ontario.

HEPA Filter Replacement: When it comes to portable air purifiers, manufacturers recommend the HEPA filter to be replaced every year because it is the core of the unit. While replacement of this filter is expensive in higher pollution areas, or for business medical use, consider replacing twice per year to maintain good results without airflow restriction.

Water Filter Replacement

Cleaning the water is an investment made for various types of reasons, this can be as simple as drinking purified water instead of tap water, or softening and conditioning your water for other benefits. Like air purifiers, there is a large range of water filters on the market, and different brands and types require different replacement times. So how often do you need to change your water filters? Well for accurate results consult the owner's manual of your product, below is our recommendations.

We recommend reverse osmosis filter replacement based on usage; this can mean once a year or once every two years. One method of knowing when you should change your reverse osmosis filters is taste and consistency. If you notice the quality of water start to change from what you are used to, it is most likely time to change the filters.

For water conditioning systems and water softening systems require softener salt to be regularly poured into the system. DO NOT fill the entire system with salt, you only need a few inches of salt to maintain system effectiveness.

Summary

From cleaning the air and purifying the water to the furnace filter which every home with forced air has; each of these has an important role from reducing dust and debris or pollutants that would otherwise be free in our air or water. The general rules of replacement were listed above and it is advised to continue regular filter replacement of your products for the long term. If you need direct assistance maintaining your products, give us a call and we’re more than happy to help.