Scott Meenen, owner of G&S Mechanical Services in Laurel, MD, contends that “changing the filter is important, but it’s not maintenance.” In his opinion, changing the filter is an absolute minimum of activity that keeps the unit alive.
Still, not enough homeowners seem to realize the importance of this bare necessity. Even worse, Meenen says, too many new systems are installed with cheap filters; “They need a new filter box” to accommodate better-quality filters. “I’ve seen really good systems ruined” due to lack of proper filtration, he says.