Let’s talk about it. If you’ve read any of our previous posts, you should know that one of the simplest things you can do to support your system is to stay on top of maintenance and change dirty filters. Being that HVAC filters are “out of sight out of mind” it’s easy to forget about them. A dirty filter can be impacting more than you think. For example, maybe you’ve never thought about the fact that your dirty air filter could be to blame for your worsening allergies? Well it can certainly play a part.
Changing filters is relatively quick, easy, and inexpensive. But this small step can have a big impact on your air quality and system performance. On average, filters should be swapped out from 1-3 months. Frequency for each home can be different as we all live in different circumstances. For example, those with pets or allergies may change their filters more frequently.
Needless to say, neglecting your filter can be a recipe for disaster, and we’re diving deeper into that below.
10 Ways a Dirty Air Filter is Causing Havoc in Your Home
- It’s Ruining Your Air Quality
When your filter is dirty, it quite literally starts doing the opposite of what it should. The filter’s main purpose is to trap all the gunk like dust and pollutants from recirculating in your home’s air. If the filter gets clogged and isn’t replaced, it allows those undesirable particles to reenter the air, because it simply doesn’t have the capacity to trap them. Keep in mind when looking at filters their MERV rating. The higher the rating the more particles are trapped. But this is a two sided coin as if you pick too high of a rating for your system, your system may have a hard time pooling air and working as a whole.
- It’s Hiking Up Your Power Bills
Think about it, a dirty air filter isn’t allowing air to go through as it should. So what does your system do? Your system forces the process and in turn uses more energy. It’s a vicious cycle really. Poor maintenance leads to impaired system function which leads to greater energy usage and higher bills.
- It’s Shortening Your Overall System’s Lifespan
Things that work harder typically wear out faster. If your system is having to force air through because your filter is dirty, it’s doing more work than it should. And logically, the related components start to wear down. Next time you want to ignore your filter—think which is cheaper to replace, the filter or the HVAC system as a whole?
- It’s Plummeting Your Heating and Cooling Efficiency
Are you catching on to the domino effect? If not, we’ll break it down again. When the filter is dirty the system works harder and struggles to be efficient. You can also notice your home not cooling down in the summer and not staying warm in the winter. Especially noticeable in extreme weather conditions that New York and New Jersey tend to face every now and then.
- It’s Promoting Mold and Mildew Growth
A clogged filter is prone to trap moisture. And moisture leads to what? That’s right, mold and mildew. Being that HVAC’s recirculate air, those mold spores can be spread throughout your home and lead to health issues on top of system failure.
- It’s Making Your HVAC System Noisy
If you’re suddenly noticing noise that you didn’t notice before, it could very well be a result of your HVAC system working harder than usual. Try changing out the filter, it can restore system function to normal and the extra noise should dissipate.
- It’s Restricting Airflow
Blocked filters limit the amount of air being circulated in your home. This can make rooms feel stuffy, especially in humid climates. Poor circulation leads to poor ventilation and moisture buildup.
- It’s Causing Unpleasant Odors in Your Home
Funky smells from your vents are a tell-tale sign that filters should be replaced. When full, air filters can start releasing trapped particles back into the air. Worse, if mold has started growing and your rooms are being filled with a musty scent as a result.
- It’s Worsening Allergies
If you struggle from allergies, a dirty filter can be quite a nightmare. Those particles that are being released back into the air can trigger symptoms like sneezing and itchy eyes. Allergy prone folks should probably change their filters even more frequently to avoid the unpleasant health effects.
- It’s Making Way for Financial Implications
It’s already been mentioned in this post, but a dirty filter can put quite the strain on your wallet. Remember, higher bills add up, and worse, new HVAC system prices can be quite shocking. So don’t put yourself in a pickle, and change the filter.
Final Word: Protect Your Home & Health
Now that you know better, you can do better. Such a small component can lead to pretty big consequences. Our advice is to set a monthly reminder in your phone to check your filters, especially if you’re in NY and NJ where air quality isn’t the best.
As an alternative, you can even schedule regular filter deliveries to your door. This way you definitely won’t forget when your filter is due for a change. Swapping out your filters isn’t super complicated, but if you find yourself having trouble, don’t hesitate to give us a call (888-334-1612). We’ll be happy to help you with all of your HVAC system needs.
