Highwood Mechanical Contractors, Inc. serves all of CT and specializes in Fairfield County, New Haven County, and Middlesex County.
 
You know that you should change your HVAC filters on a regular basis, but how often do you really need to go through that process? And, how easy is it to change your HVAC filter? Regular home maintenance involves a variety of tasks that we often try to push off when possible. Unfortunately, delaying changing your HVAC filter can result in additional expenses. Keep reading to learn how to change your filter for your HVAC system.
 
How often should you change your HVAC filters?
It is important to have heating and air conditioning contractors check your unit every year. They can identify issues like cracked or dry belts, gapped ductwork, or rusted components. It is best to leave these bigger issues and fixes to professional HVAC contractors. However, changing your air filter is a simple task that can be done without the help of a professional.
 
It is generally recommended that you change your filter once every three months if it is used year-round. There are also many circumstances where it may be necessary to change your filter more often depending on your usage. In some cases, you may need to change your filter once a month, including the following:
 

• Your unit is run six months to a year
• Pets live in your home
• Many people live in your home
• You smoke inside
• You suffer from allergies
• You have a respiratory condition
• You live in a windy area
• Your area is prone to wildfires
• A fireplace is in your home
• You live on a ranch or farm
• You keep a large garden
• Construction is happening near your home

 
There are also some instances when it is necessary to change your filter immediately, regardless of its age. A filter can be damaged in the packaging or during installation, which results in bent fins or collapsed cells. These will not work as efficiently, and you should replace the filter. If your filter is damp, it is important to change it immediately to avoid spreading airborne mold spores.
 
What materials do you need for HVAC installation?
Changing your HVAC filter does not require a lot of tools or materials, and you likely already have many of these supplies at home. It is important to locate your manual or find a copy of your HVAC manual online. This will help you locate your filter and make the process much easier. Other materials include:
 

• A screwdriver to remove the screws from the lid
• A container to keep the screws in a safe place while you work
• A duster, vacuum, or cleaning supplies to clean your cover
• A large trash bag to hold your old filter
• A new filter for replacement

 
Which filter should you purchase?
There are different types of filters available, and you can check your manual for guidance on selecting the right filter. The type of filter you choose will also depend on your needs and usage of your HVAC system. Some of the common types of filters include:
 

• Fiberglass air filters: These are affordable but have the lowest straining ability.
• Pleated filters: These are able to filter dust and pollutants, but more pleats provide better filtering.
• Washable filters: These cost more but can be cleaned instead of replaced regularly.
• Electrostatic filters: These use electrostatic charge to remove dust and particles from your home.
• High efficiency particulate air filters: These can screen up to 99.97% of contaminants and are ideal for people with respiratory issues.
• UV filters: These use UV lights to eliminate bacteria, but they do not screen dust as well.

 
What are the steps for changing your HVAC?
Once you have your materials and air filter, it is time to change out your current filter. With the help of your manual, you can change your HVAC filter in no time. Follow these steps for a smooth switch out.
 

1. Turn your HVAC system off to prevent air from moving while you work.
2. Locate your filter with the help of your manual.
3. Remove the screws holding your lid or filter in place. Be sure to keep these in a container so you can use them again.
4. Remove the cover if applicable and thoroughly clean it before continuing.
5. Take out your old filter and put it in a large trash bag. This will keep dust and dirt from tracking in your home. If you have a washable filter, you can still use a trash bag to take your filter outside for cleaning.
6. Reference the arrows on your new filter to properly install the new filter.
7. Write the date on your new filter so you know when it was last changed.
8. Replace the lid and screws if necessary.

 
Conclusion:
The more times you change your HVAC filter, the easier it will be. For any other issues with your HVAC system, it is important to contact heating and air conditioning contractors for support. If you are looking for premium HVAC services in Connecticut, Highwood Mechanical is your answer. Contact us today for more information on HVAC services.

Here is an email we received from one of our happy customers:

"I am very, very happy with the work that you guys did. You did meet my expectations, and I am very appreciative. It runs nicely and looks BEAUTIFUL!!! I love new equipment, and your installation is so impressive. I really appreciate that you were so neat during the process. I am so nervous because of the stress of my work and other obligations that messiness makes me even more nervous and that was not the case with your work. In addition, all of you are so polite and pleasant to be around. 

Please say thank you to everyone. And thank you, Ben."

We do all we can to make our customers happy. Thank you Abbie for this email. 

We had the pleasure of working with Yale School of Architecture. We look forward to working with them again next year. 

We love happy customers. Below is a latest note of thanks from our customer. We are happy to do our job and fix your AC when you most need it, and we do appreciate notes like these.

We get many questions regarding geothermal systems for homes. Most frequently, I am asked if Geothermal is right for my home. And the big answer is YES. In all applications, be it hot water or hot air existing systems, geothermal can be retro fitted to your home. 

How are Geothermal systems installed?
Geothermal requires vertical bores (depth and number of bores varies based on size of your home), which will cause some disruption to your existing landscaping, but is easily repaired and healed. Here in the north east we are bed rock laden, which is a great medium for heat transfer, making retro fit applications a popular choice. Water from the well, is NOT used as commonly perceived. In the vertical bores, are a set of water lines that are surrounded by flexible grout which has a tremendous thermal conductivity. A water/anti-freeze blend is circulated through these loops and back to the geo-thermal machine providing heating and cooling. 

What are the efficiency gains with Geothermal HVAC?
We often have energy efficiency gains of 40%-60% annually. 

How long with Geothermal equipment last?
Because there is no equipment outside of your home, the average life expectancy of geo-thermal equipment can be 50% or more than a conventional outdoor heat pump or air conditioner. 

Please ask us any questions that you may have about geothermal, so we can help unlock these mysteries for you. We have experience installing more than 25 residential and commercial Geothermal HVAC systems in CT.

This season has been one with a lot of pollen in the air. Your air conditioning system is sensitive to that. Here are some helpful tips to keep your air conditioning unit running well.

1. Keep the outdoor condensing unit coils clean. This can be done simply with a hose and fresh water. 
Turn off the power supply to the outdoor unit. This means the circuit breaker and disconnect (which is mounted on your house near the outdoor AC unit) are turned off. If you are not sure it is off, please have a qualified technician perform this easy maintenance.

2. DO NOT USE a pressure washer as this will potentially damage your unit.

3. Keep grass clippings and other outdoor debris from gathering on and around your outdoor air conditioning unit.

4. A mid season air filter change may be necessary as pollen will gather on that filter, restricting air flow.

STAY COOL and enjoy your summer!

To keep your central AC system running well, one of the most important things that a home owner can do, is to replace the air filter in your air handler. This not only keeps your equipment running well and trouble free through out the season, but it will also, depending upon your filter selection greatly improve indoor air quality. 

Did you know that seasonal allergies can also be kept in check with a quality air filtration system? 

Please seek advice from an experienced contractor or contact us to help you select the proper air filtration system to fit your family’s needs.

We love our country! And our way of giving back to this great nation of ours is to honor those who put their lives at risk so that we may live safely with our families. Highwood Mechanical is proud to be part of House of Heroes Connecticut chapter, where we volunteer our services towards fixing veteran's homes. 
Letters like these, give us a sense of satisfaction and life fulfillment that nothing else can ever provide. Read this very touching letter below:

"This letter is to let you and your company know how grateful and thankful we are for your generosity of assisting us with our needs for a new furnace. Please know that your kindness is greatly appreciated. I'm overcome with emotion. I cried the day the group came to install the furnace. We are hardworking people. However, my husband had become disabled and life has never been the same since then. May God bless and keep you all. I go down to the basement and touch the furnace and thank you guys all the time. No more fumes!! We are forever grateful. Hope that one day we will be able to pay it forward."
- Angela and Robert Carpenter