You Won't Regret Hiring A Pro For This One Air-Improving Home Task

Gross alert: You may feel like the air in your home is clean, but in many cases, it's actually more polluted than the air outside. In addition to health concerns, indoor pollutants can wreak havoc on your HVAC system. The simplest thing you can do to prevent this is to change your air filter regularly (plus, professional HVAC equipment maintenance is also critical for detecting potential problems that could cause a breakdown). Thankfully, The Home Depot offers seasonal HVAC tuneups and annual maintenance programs to ensure your system is running safely and efficiently and is ready for the demands of the upcoming season. Following your checkup, the technician will make any recommendations related to fixing, enhancing, or preventing a future issue so your system can keep on humming. 

Remember the last time you changed your HVAC filter? Probably not. "You should check your filters every month for 1-inch filters, and every three months for 4-inch filters," says Viviane Essex, the National Install Merchant for HVAC systems at The Home Depot. "A dirty filter is the No. 1 reason for a breakdown for both the heating and cooling systems." Why? Air filters trap all the dust, pet hair, and airborne particles circulating in your home. If it's not changed often enough, the airflow through your system becomes restricted and can ultimately cause a breakdown. Think of how a hairdryer clogged with lint can result in burning out its motor. Plus, as filters become clogged, your air conditioning and heating have to work harder to push the air through, taxing the equipment and causing it to operate less efficiently and ultimately increase utility costs. 

While most people want to keep their existing system for as long as possible (it's common to wait until it ultimately breaks down) preemptively upgrading to a new high-energy-efficient heating and air conditioning system can deliver significant savings on your energy bills and ultimately pay for itself over time. As your unit ages, its efficiency decreases (most systems have a lifespan of 10 to 15 years). Knowing when it's time for a change can be a matter of repairs. "When you start to need repairs every year, it's time to trade things in," Essex says. And as a general guideline: If the cost of the repair times the age of the unit is more than $5,000, it's time for it to go. Home Services from The Home Depot offers free consultations where they'll review your current system, your concerns, and your budget to provide you with options to meet your needs, as well as several financing options, including both deferred financing and low-monthly-payment options.

For more services to help you maintain your living space, visit Home Services at The Home Depot here.