Why Your Air Filters Are Clogging Up Faster Than They Should

If you suspect that your HVAC filters are clogging faster than your neighbor's, then maybe they are. Some HVAC filters clog faster than other; here are some of the reasons for such accelerated clogging.

You Are Using Fine Filters

Highly efficient air filters are great because they catch as much air pollutants as possible. However, the same reason that makes them great also means they clog up faster the air filters with relatively lower efficiencies. This makes sense because the efficiency of an air filter is determined by the size of the eyes of the filter mesh; small holes mean high-efficiency filters.

It's not advisable to opt for the most efficient air filter available in the market. Consult with your AC technician on the level of air quality you have, the nature of air pollutants in your home, and the sensitivity of your household members to help you choose the best air filter.

Your Air Ducts Are Leaking

Leaky air ducts in your home also contribute to accelerated filter clogging because they pick up dust and other air pollutants through the leaks. This typically happens in unconditioned parts of the house such as the attic or the crawl space, which tend to have more debris than other parts of the house. The only solution here is to plug the leaks.

You Have Furry Pets

Having pets of the furry kind also accelerates your filter clogging. The more of these pets you have, the faster your filters will be clogged. This is mainly because of the fur/hair and dander that pets shed; most of these will end up in the ducts. Washing and brushing your pets regularly will help minimize the materials they shed.

You Don't Clean Your House Regularly

You may also be dealing with accelerated filter clogging because you don't clean your house as often as you should. This is because it is the dust in your house that inevitably finds their way into your filters. Dusting and vacuuming the house regularly should help you deal with this problem.

Your AC Is Constantly Running

 Lastly, a constantly running AC is also likely to get its filters clogged faster than an AC that alternates between "On" and "Off" positions like all AC's should. Some of the things that may make your AC run constantly include loss of air through leaks, wrong setting on the thermostat, and using an undersized AC, among others. Here, you need to diagnose and fix the root cause of the problem to stop the accelerated filter clogging.

As you can see, most of the above issues are maintenance issues; this means maintaining your HVAC system is a good way of protecting the filters too. An HVAC technician should be able to help you deal with accelerated clogging issues. For more information, contact the best heating and air conditioning services in your area. 


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