A dirty furnace filter can have a significant impact on the efficiency of your HVAC system. When the filter becomes clogged with dust, dander, and dirt, the fan has to work harder to get air through it. This can lead to reduced airflow, hot and cold spots in your home, and difficulty maintaining the desired indoor temperature. The most serious consequence of a clogged air filter is the damage it can cause to your boiler.
The boiler must work harder than usual to compensate for the increased airflow obstruction when the air filter is dirty and clogged. This inefficiency increases rapidly as the filter becomes increasingly clogged or until it is replaced. If left untreated, it can not only destroy your furnace filter quickly, but it can also lead to higher energy bills. Routine filter replacement could result in an annual reduction of 5 to 15% in utility costs related to air conditioning and heating.
If you have a high-quality HEPA filter, you may notice that it gets dirty a little faster than regular filters, as they filter a lot more particles out of the air. Cleaning and dusting your home regularly is a good way to extend the life of your furnace filters. Change the boiler air filter and HVAC unit at least once every six months, or according to the manufacturer's instructions. One of the worst things about a dirty furnace filter is that all the dust and dirt that must be filtered is recirculated back to your home.
When the oven reaches a specific temperature, its limit switch will automatically turn off the oven. This can cause short cycling problems and make it difficult to maintain heat in your home. Allowing the filter to get too dirty can cause the oven to run short cycles or cause the air conditioner to freeze. The fans push air through the filter.
With reduced airflow, you may experience hot and cold spots in your home, and it may be difficult to reach desired indoor temperature levels. The repair can easily end up emptying your pockets, so be sure to replace the furnace filter in time. Depending on your home and living conditions, you may end up changing your furnace filter more or less frequently than others. Like replacing the car's engine oil and air filter every 3,000 miles, a clean HVAC air filter protects the boiler system from damage and, ultimately, from completely failing.
