It's no secret that air filters are essential for keeping your home's air clean and your HVAC system running smoothly. But what happens if you don't replace them? As mentioned above, if the filter is not changed, debris and dirt will soon clog the unit, leading to overwork. This, in turn, increases your energy bills. It takes longer to cool your home.
With an old air filter in operation, you'll notice that the air conditioner takes a long time to cool your home. If the air filter is clogged and can't trap contaminants like it used to, those things can go back to the air that everyone in your home breathes. Immediate problems may include headaches, itchy eyes or throat, and dizziness. If the air filters are not changed and problems persist, the long-term effects could be respiratory disease, heart disease, or cancer.
Replacing the air filter and having the HVAC system inspected regularly are part of a preventive maintenance routine. Failure to change the air filter can damage other parts of the system and can result in a large repair bill later on. Changing air filters regularly can help preserve the life of your system and make it work more efficiently. If the air cleaner is not serviced often enough, it will eventually become clogged to the point where air cannot pass through it.
When the oven is operating, the lack of air flow will trap heat in the system. As the temperature inside the system continues to rise, the limit switch will turn the oven on and off to prevent it from overheating. This will temporarily mitigate the problem, but will not resolve the root of the problem. Without a new air filter, the oven will overheat every time it is turned on again.
This is known as short cycling. Getting the most value out of your home can be as easy as changing air filters. Homeowners who ignore filters in their heating and air conditioning systems risk increasing energy costs, damaging expensive equipment, and decreasing indoor air quality and personal health. If you haven't changed your home's air filters lately, you should determine which filters you need and replace them as soon as possible. Not only will this help keep your energy bills low and your HVAC system running efficiently, but it will also help protect your family's health by preventing contaminants from entering your home's air supply.
Additionally, replacing an old or disposable filter with a HEPA filter can help trap even more contaminants. If you want to keep your home's air clean and avoid unnecessary repairs, consider replacing air filters every 30 to 90 days. Doing so can save you money in energy costs and repair bills down the line - not to mention any business you could lose if you had to close for repairs or replacements.
