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

One of the most common issues that we encounter at Fras-Air/General Service Experts in Hillsborough is dirty air filters. They can seem like a very small piece of the big home comfort puzzle, but the role they play in helping us maintain comfort is a lot bigger than most homeowners realize. Regardless if it is cooling season or heating season, having a clogged air filter can cause a number of issues for your heating and AC system.  

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

• Decreased 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 changed, the more dirt, dust and other particles build up. Of course, this inhibits 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 threat if your air filter goes unchanged for months and months on end. In essence, you will have worked your system so hard that something breaks 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 can 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  
• Diminished air quality  
• Greater 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 clogged 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 Fras-Air/General Service Experts a call at 908-448-2154 or schedule an appointment online.