The last thing you want is for your furnace filter to look like the picture above. You should change your filter every 1-3 months, depending on your filter, whether you have pets, and how much your furnace is running. But why is this necessary, and what happens if you don't change your furnace filter?
Safety Concerns
Dirty filters create a number of safety concerns. Dangers of dirty furnace filters include:
- Overheating
- Clogging
- Starting fires
- Causing your furnace to turn off
Poor Air Quality
The purpose of your filter is to catch and reduce the amount of dust, pet hair and other allergens in your home. Having air run through a dirty filter can increase, rather than reduce, these allergens and cause adverse reactions to anyone living in your home.
Did you know there are several devices easily added to your system that can virtually eliminate certain allergens? Basic filters are like a course sieve used when cooking. Similar to finer sieves that catch smaller food particles, there are finer air handlers available for furnaces that catch allergens. There are also electrically charged charcoal devices that fit in your filter slot without any changes to the duct work, and ultra-violet light filters which kill germs. The days of having cheap disposable filters are gone, except for those who have no concern about circulating contaminated air. Oftentimes the air outside your home is much cleaner than your indoor air.
Shortened Life of Your HVAC Unit
Dirty furnace filters cause your furnace to work harder than it should due to a decrease in airflow. The harder your furnace works, the quicker its parts will wear out and need repairs. In the long run, this will shorten the life of your HVAC unit.
High Energy Costs
Because your furnace works harder with a dirty filter, it runs more often and for longer. This will hike up your energy costs in the winter, as your furnace struggles to keep your home warm.
Have concerns regarding your furnace? Get help from the plumbing experts at Master Plumbing, Heating & Cooling!
