Spring is here in Chicagoland and that means most of us are busy "spring cleaning" our homes and yards. As you tackle your list of spring to-do's make sure to check your furnace filter to see if needs to be replaced. Below are expert tips from Vini Ochoa, owner and president of Preferred Comfort Heating and Cooling.
1. Why It's Important to Change Your Filter: Disposable furnace filters trap airborne contaminants like dust, dirt, hair, mold and other allergens. Filters protect your furnace from these particles and improve air quality for you! Consequences of not changing your filter can range from poor air quality, broken furnace parts to whole-system failures. An old, clogged filter makes your furnace work harder to pump air. This drives up your energy bills and shortens your furnace’s lifespan.
2. How Often You Should Replace Your Filter: Change your filter every 2-3 months. The exact time will depend on filter thickness and quality, air quality where you live, the size of your home and whether you have pets.
3. Try Vini's "Gray Test": As a general rule of thumb, if the filter is a light shade of gray, your filter still probably has a couple of weeks left and is still good. However, if the filter is dark gray it is time to replace it ASAP.
Alternatively, if you don't want to mess with your filter yourself, now is a great time that most of our customers have their HVAC system serviced for the summer season.
This preventative maintenance twice a year (spring and fall) saves you money, energy and offers peace of mind knowing your system is safe for the season before you need to turn your air conditioner on.
Our team of licensed technicians will check critical parts of your system to inspect the parts are working properly, there are no safety hazards, and to look for any potential issues that could lead to costly emergency repairs when you need a cool home the most.
Schedule your spring maintenance now by calling or texting us at 773.456.5883 or you can email us and someone will contact you to find a day and time that works best for your schedule.