How often should you change your high efficiency filters? If your unit does not have a magnahelic pressure gauge you need to calendar your changes. But a calendar isn’t a reliable guide, as environmental changes can cause a filter to clog sooner rather than later. Changing your filter now, before it’s completely clogged, can save your system from significant wear and tear, as well as save you money on energy bills.
What Happens When Air Bypasses High Efficiency Filters
A high efficiency filter’s job is to capture particles before they enter the HVAC system. But as the filter captures more and more particles, it becomes more efficient. This puts additional pressure on the system, but that is intended.
If a high efficiency filter gets too dirty, the fan must work harder to draw air into the system through clogged filters or around the filter frame, putting more strain and pressure on the motor. The more the motor has to strain, the more energy it uses, and the greater the wear and tear on the components. The result is wasted energy and wasted money.
Further, once the filter gets too dirty, air moves around the filter, rather than through the filtration material. This situation, called bypass, reduces the effectiveness of the entire system. If you get bypass, dirt and debris collect in the ductwork. This dirt may eventually work into … well … your lungs!
Signs a High Efficiency Filter Needs to Be Changed
It’s important to know your system well in order to assess whether or not filters should be changed. Consult the system manual for a rough estimate of when you should change the filters. Manuals are developed based on averages, and the average may or may not apply to your specific situation.
Signs that your high efficiency filter needs to be changed more frequently include:
- If you motor is not meant to be running constantly, but it is, it may be straining to pull air through a clogged filter.
- Higher than normal incidence of pollutants in the air, such as during construction, heavy manufacturing times, or times of high traffic in public buildings.
- Construction situations, which naturally put all sorts of dirt and fibers in the air from drywall sanding, carpet installation and other situations.
- Dirty ductwork or noticeable dirt and dust pulled into the system components.
High efficiency filters can only work most economically when they’re clean. Make sure you change your filters before a dirty filter causes problem for your equipment or your business.
If you have questions about choosing the best high efficiency filter for your system, Twin City Filter can help. We ship same day to customers coast to coast, and offer next day delivery to Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, South Dakota and North Dakota. Twin City Filter may be reached at 612-721-2001.