4 Things That Happen When You Don’t Change Your HVAC Filters

You know you’re supposed to change your HVAC filter regularly, but do you know why? Changing your filters every three months – and every month, ideally – isn’t just a good way to keep your allergies at bay, it’s also important for the health of your HVAC system itself.At MTB Mechanical, we’ve seen what can happen when people neglect to change their HVAC filter. It’s not pretty. Here are four things you could see if you forget to change yours:
1. Short-Cycling
Often the first sign of a malfunctioning HVAC system is the sound of a unit turning on and off, on and off, on and off. This is called short-cycling. Your AC is supposed to cycle on and off throughout the day to accommodate changing temperatures, but if it can’t draw air in and push air out because of a clogged filter, the cycle will be interrupted. Short-cycling isn’t just annoying to listen to, it actually decreases the efficiency of your machine, wasting you energy and money.
2. Dirty Indoor Air
One of the filter’s primary jobs is to trap dust and other fine particulates as they circulate in and out of your system. When a filter is clogged, there’s no more room to trap these allergens. This leaves more particles floating around in your indoor air which can exacerbate symptoms of allergies, asthma, and worse.
3. High Energy Bills
When your HVAC system can’t work properly, you’re wasting energy. The harder your unit has to run to condition your indoor air effectively, the higher your energy costs will be. The Department of Energy says you could save anywhere from 5-15% on your annual energy bills just by changing your filters regularly! That pays for the filters and then some.
4. Shortened HVAC Lifespan
Filters are an investment, yes, but they’re incredibly inexpensive relative to the cost of replacing your entire HVAC system years sooner than you needed to. When a system works overtime to correct for the effects of a clogged filter it will eventually break down. Why spend thousands of dollars on a new air system then neglect to take care of it?
Think of changing your HVAC filters like you do changing the oil in your vehicle; a bit of a hassle, but well worth it for the functionality of the machine. Need help remembering to change your filters? Try using MTB Mechanical’s free Filter-Change Reminder to keep you on track.
Do you think your HVAC system needs to be serviced? Give our technicians a call today.