When it comes to maintaining your home, one of the most important tasks is changing your air filter. Not changing your air filter can have serious consequences, both in the short and long term. In the short term, it can cause headaches, itchy eyes or throat, and dizziness. In the long term, it can lead to respiratory disease, heart disease, and even cancer.
The Minimum Efficiency Report Value (MERV) rating for an air filter measures how effectively the filter prevents dust and other contaminants from passing through the filter into the air stream. If the air filter is clogged and can't trap contaminants like it used to, those things can go back to the air that everyone in your home breathes. This can cause a range of health issues, from minor discomfort to serious illnesses. Not changing your air filter can also damage other parts of the system and result in a large repair bill later on.
A clogged air filter can cause the air blower to break down, which in turn causes the entire HVAC system to break down. This can lead to increased energy costs and decreased indoor air quality. It's important to note that there are high-efficiency filters that are designed to filter out small bacterial, mold, and fungal particles, but your standard MERV 8-11 filters will simply block out larger particles of dust, dirt & hair. If the air cleaner is dirty and clogged, it will not allow an adequate amount of air flow through the system.
This can cause condensation that does not dissipate to freeze, inhibiting the condenser's ability to remove heat from the air to cool it. If you haven't changed your home's air filters lately, the next step should be to determine which filters you need and replace them as soon as possible. Combine regular filter changes and annual maintenance visits to get the best possible performance from your HVAC system. Getting the most value out of your home can be as easy as changing air filters.
Homeowners who ignore filters in their heating and air conditioning systems risk increasing energy costs, damaging expensive equipment, and decreasing indoor air quality and personal health.
