Energy Inefficiency

If you notice a sudden hike in heating bills, a dirty air filter is the most likely cause. The furnace uses the blower fan to pull air from the house, passes it through the air filter, and then heats the air before it blows it back into your home. But when the filter is clogged, the blower fan must work harder than usual to push the same heat into your home. Consequently, your furnaces use more energy to heat your home, which increases your energy bills.

Frequent Breakdowns

A clogged air filter puts excess strain on your furnace, which causes the heating system to overheat. This issue can cause the furnace to malfunction or even completely shut down. The longer you wait to replace a dirty air filter, the more likely it is that your furnace will require repair or replacement sooner than expected.

Increased Dust and Allergens in Your Home

Besides temperature regulation, a furnace is responsible for improving indoor air quality. With the help of air filters, the system traps dirt, dust, and other airborne particles before they can make their way into your home.

But when these filters become dirty, the component cannot clean the air efficiently. Instead, the filter may start to release the trapped particles back into the air, which leads to higher levels of dust and allergens in your home.

Uneven Heating

If some spots in your space are warmer than others, dirty air filters may be to blame. As mentioned earlier, the furnace depends on the blower fan to circulate warm air into your home. But when the filters are clogged, airflow becomes restricted, which disrupts the balanced circulation of heat throughout your space. Failure to clean or change the filter soon enough may cause the blower fan to fail completely, which means that the furnace will not heat your home at all.

Heat Exchanger and Blower Motor Breakdown

The heat exchanger is a metal chamber inside the furnace that heats up when the burner is in use and releases hot air into your home. When the filters are clogged, hot air will build up inside the heat exchanger and may cause this component to crack. Note that a cracked heat exchanger is hazardous as it exposes your family to carbon monoxide poisoning.

Furthermore, dirty filters may cause the blower motor to fail. The reason is that when the fan is clogged, the motor requires more energy to run. And the excess strain may either cause the blower motor to be less effective or fail entirely.

Short Cycling

Short cycling is when the furnace turns on and off frequently throughout the day. And while numerous issues, such as a faulty thermostat and air leaks, can cause short cycling, dirty air filters are the biggest culprit.

Clogged filters restrict adequate airflow in the heat exchanger, which causes the heating system to overheat. The furnace turns on and off as a defense mechanism to prevent heat damage. Short cycling is not only a sign of an inefficient system but also one that is likely to break down prematurely.

Dirty filters are a threat to your loved ones and the efficiency of your heating system. So don't wait until your furnace shows signs of trouble before replacing the filters. And importantly, let a professional HVAC technician inspect the unit regularly to address any other issues that may risk your safety and comfort.

Riverside Heating & Air Conditioning is your local and reliable HVAC company. We will inspect your furnace and recommend the best action to keep your home safe, comfortable, and energy-efficient. Contact us for more information.