Air filters are essential for preventing dust and other debris from circulating through the HVAC system. If the air cleaner isn't doing its job, not only will debris pass through and clog your HVAC system, but it will also end up in the air that everyone in your home breathes. This can lead to immediate problems such as headaches, itchy eyes or throat, and dizziness. If air filters are not changed and these issues persist, 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 result in a large repair bill later on. Changing air filters regularly can help preserve the system's life and make it work more efficiently. 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. Read on to learn what can happen if you don't change your air filters. The danger of not changing the air filter in the house for a long time is that it will eventually lead to damage to the oven.
This means that the entire system will be destroyed by excess heat. Most filters are located in areas that can be easily accessed, so all you need to do is remove the old one and put on a new one. Without adequate airflow, rooms farther away may remain cold in winter and warm in summer, while other areas receive most of the airflow. If you notice that your HVAC system is not working with the same efficiency, changing the air filters could solve the problem. If you haven't changed your air filters in a while, it's time to call Miller Plumbing & Heating to have your system inspected and professionally cleaned. With a dirty air filter, expect to increase the uptime of your HVAC system and, at the same time, change the air temperature in small increments. If you neglected to change the AC filter for some time, it is very likely that a lot of dust will accumulate inside the ducts.
If you are replacing an old or disposable filter, you should also consider purchasing a HEPA filter to trap contaminants. Evaporative coils, which help remove heat from the air to keep the house cool, can freeze if they are overworked. With a clogged air filter, air will not flow through the coils properly, causing them to stop working and causing total system failure. This means that the entire system has to work harder to distribute heat or air where it's needed, increasing your utility bills as the air runs longer. If you've never changed your air conditioning filter, it's best to have an HVAC technician do it for you the first time. Ultimately, these four main things will happen if you continue to leave a dirty air filter in your air conditioner: increased energy costs; damaged expensive equipment; decreased indoor air quality; and personal health risks. Some of the common things that filters block are dust, pollen, lint, mold, hair, animal fur, bacteria and more.
The longer particles stay in the air, the more likely they are to accumulate inside the unit, block airflow and cause damage.