Changing your air filter probably doesn’t top your to-do list very often. However, filter changes are an essential task if you want to keep your HVAC system running in good condition. What follows are five important reasons why you should stay on top of filter changes — and what could go wrong if you don’t.
Poor Heating and Cooling
Air filters work by trapping airborne contaminants as they flow through the filter media. When you’re not changing your air filter regularly, it becomes clogged with dirt and debris, and air can’t pass freely through it. The lack of sustained airflow causes a decrease in the quality of heating and cooling you get in your home. So, check your air filter regularly to keep your home comfortable.
Increased Energy Bills
Another downside to not changing your air filter regularly is higher energy bills. A clogged and dirty filter makes your HVAC unit use more energy and stay on longer to pull air through the ducts and reach the desired temperature in your home.
Poor Indoor Air Quality
It’s probably happened before: You’re overdue for changing your air filter and — yuck! — it’s a nasty mess of dirt and dust! Well, just imagine how much dirt and dust gets through or bypasses the clogged filter. All of that debris just returns to your home through the ducts and vents.
Furnace Failure
By design, air filters are an obstruction to free airflow through the ductwork. This is necessary to capture airborne particles. However, the dirtier the filter, the greater the pressure drop in the HVAC system. If the pressure drop becomes too great, your furnace or AC could fail.
Frozen AC Coil
The evaporator coil is the component in your AC system that removes heat from airflow to cool your home. If the coil doesn’t receive enough airflow, it can become frozen in a block of ice. Changing your air filter regularly helps maintain enough airflow so that this doesn’t happen to you when you need your AC the most.
If you have questions about changing your air filter regularly in your Dayton home, contact
today.
