What Happens When You Don’t Change Your Furnace’s Air Filter  

One of the most routine concerns that we encounter at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning in Edmonton is filthy air filters. They may seem like a very small piece of the big home comfort puzzle, but the role they play in helping us control comfort is a lot greater than most homeowners notice. Regardless if it is cooling season or heating season, having a filthy air filter can cause a host of issues for your heating and AC system.  

So what exactly happens when you neglect to change your air filter? Here are a just a couple of the side effects you could encounter:  

  • Reduced airflow. This is easily the largest issue you’ll notice when your home’s air filter is badly clogged. The longer the air filter goes without being switched, the more dirt, dust and other particles build up. Of course, this prevents air from passing through the filter as it should, meaning your system is working a lot harder to leave you with the same amount of air.  
  • Frozen coil. If your system is running harder due to a dirty air filter, you also run the risk of having the cooling coil freeze inside of the system, because it’s working overtime to provide you with cool air.  
  • Total loss of cooling or heating. This is also a probability if your air filter goes neglected for months and months on end. In essence, you will have worked your system so hard that something quits working or wears out and needs to be replaced or serviced.  
  • Short cycling. Short cycling means the heating and cooling system turns on and off excessively. When your system short cycles, it could overheat or break down from the added work, possibly causing damage to your system.  

In addition to these, you can also expect:  

  • A diminished equipment lifecycle  
  • Reduced energy efficiency  
  • Lower air quality  
  • Increase in dust and debris  
  • Lack of comfort  

If you’re not sure when you last switched out your air filter, it may be a good time to do so in order to get around any likely damage that may come with a clogged air filter. If you don’t know where your home’s air filter is located or you simply have a question about the variety of air filters we have, give Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning a call at 587-404-0790 or schedule an appointment online. 

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