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

One of the most common concerns that we encounter at Chief/Bauer Service Experts in Champaign is dirty air filters. They can seem like a very small piece of the overall home comfort puzzle, but the role they play in helping us create 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 concerns for your heating and AC system.  

So what exactly happens when you don’t remember to change your air filter? Here are a just a couple of the side effects you could encounter:  

• Diminished airflow. This is easily the largest issue you’ll notice when your home’s air filter is severely clogged. The longer the air filter goes without being switched, the more dirt, dust and other particles build up. Of course, this hinders 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 operating harder because of a dirty air filter, you also run the risk of having the cooling coil freeze inside of the system, because it’s operating 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 quits working 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 may 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  
• Lower air quality  
• More dust and debris  

• Lack of comfort  

If you’re not sure when you last switched out your air filter, it may be a good time to do so in order to avert any potential damage that could 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 variety of air filters available, give Chief/Bauer Service Experts a call at 217-689-2469 or schedule an appointment online.