With the frenzy of everyday life, it is understandable that homeowners may forget to replace the air filter for their furnace/HVAC system. However, a dirty furnace filter can lead to some unpleasant unintended consequences.

So, without further ado, here are our three top repercussions resulting from having a dirty furnace filter.

Weaker Hot Airflow

Did you know that having unobstructed airflow is crucial to the proper operation of a furnace, without which, a furnace becomes less energy efficient and can possibly even overheat.

Fans draw cool air into the furnace and send warm air throughout a home. If the fan fails, your heating system won’t function properly. When this happens, typically, a dirty furnace filter is the reason why.

When this happens…your heating system airflow becomes weak, most people tend to raise the temperature on their thermostat.

Unfortunately, this will put additional stress on your furnace which can lead to your furnace breaking down and/or reducing its useful lifespan.

Short Cycling

All heating/cooling systems operate in cycles which typically run for approximately 15 minutes or so..

Short cycling occurs when these cycles occur more frequently. So, although short cycling usually happens when a heating/cooling system is too large for a home, dirty filters can indeed result in your furnace to short cycle as well. Short cycling is detrimental to the lifespan of your system equipment as well as increasing energy costs.

Poor Indoor Air Quality

Maintaining the use of clean air filters fosters improved indoor air quality while reducing dust and debris that builds up in your furnace.

Infrequent filter changes can not only put greater stress on a heating system, but increase the amount of dust and debris accumulation within a home.

The Bottom Line

Change your furnace filters regularly, how often depends on a number of factors including the type of furnace filter being used. Generally, it won’t hurt to change your filter every 30 days if using cheap fiberglass filters. When using more expensive, pleated filters, you may be able to change out filters every 4-6 months.

If you feel that you have dirty furnace filters that are causing your furnace to malfunction or run less efficiently, schedule an appointment with us to inspect your furnace, contact the heating system experts at Eagle Air Cooling & Heating by calling 480-748-1781.