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

One of the most common concerns that we encounter at Teays Valley Service Experts in Hurricane is dirty air filters. They can seem like a very small piece of the whole home comfort puzzle, but the role they play in helping us create comfort is a lot bigger than most homeowners realize. Regardless if it is cooling season or heating season, having a dirty air filter can cause a variety of concerns for your heating and AC system.  

So what exactly happens when you forget to swap out your air filter? Here are a just a couple of the side effects you may encounter:  

• Decreased airflow. This is easily the largest issue you’ll recognize when your home’s air filter is severely clogged. The longer the air filter goes without being changed, the more dirt, dust and other particles build up. Of course, this hinders air from passing through the filter as it should, meaning your system is working significantly harder to provide you with the same amount of air.  
• Frozen coil. If your system is working harder because of a filthy 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 unattended 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 may overheat or break down from the added work, potentially causing damage to your system.  

In addition to these, you can also expect:  

• A shorter equipment lifecycle  
• Lower energy efficiency  
• Decreased air quality  
• Increase in dust and debris  

• Lack of comfort  

If you’re not sure when you last changed your air filter, it may be a good time to do so in order to avert any potential damage that may come with a dirty air filter. If you don’t know where your home’s air filter is located or you simply have a question about the various air filters available, give Teays Valley Service Experts a call at 304-760-5088 or schedule an appointment online.