5 Tell-Tale Signs That Your Home’s Air Filters Needs to Be Changed

Written by: Your Filter Connection

If you’re at all concerned with your indoor air quality as well as the health of your HVAC system, changing air filters should be a priority. Sadly, few homeowners change their air filters as often as they should. The following indicators can signal the need for new HVAC filters in a residential or commercial property.

Dirty Vent Slats

Easily the most obvious sign that a home filter needs to be changed is an accumulation of dust and grime around output vents. If you run your hand along an interior vent and find it dirty, chances are good that your filters have reached their limit. Be sure to swap out intake and output filters when this scenario occurs.

Start-Up Smells

If you notice a funky odor when your HVAC first kicks on, it may signal the need to change air vent and furnace filters. You should trust your nose above all else to tell you that your filters are on the downswing. If you encounter a persistent smell that doesn’t seem right, it’s likely that your filters are shot.

Loss of Pressure

If a filter is clogged up with a lot of debris, you’ll experience a noticeable drop in HVAC pressure and throughput. Filters with high MERV ratings are especially prone to rapid clogging due to their effectiveness. While this could be due to leaks in the duct work, it’s more likely that you simply need to change your filters.

HVAC Working Overtime

An inefficient HVAC system is both a health hazard and a waste of energy. Blocked home air filter hardware doesn’t help matters any by forcing an AC or HVAC system to work harder than it should have to. If your HVAC appears to be struggling to keep up with demand, it’s probably time to change those filters.

Respiratory Side Effects

Whether you prefer an electrostatic air filter or a standard fiberglass HEPA model, the ultimate end goal is to produce the cleanest air possible. Oftentimes, your senses are the best barometer for how dirty your filters really are. If you’re experiencing sinus and allergy problems, it’s probably a good idea to change out your old filters as soon as possible.

Don’t Skimp on Quality

If some or all of the aforementioned symptoms pop up, it’s likely that a filter change is in order. A good rule of thumb is to change your filters every three to four months under normal circumstances to avoid sub-par air quality. In any event, always be sure to choose high-quality heater filters from reputable manufacturers to ensure the best results.