The funny thing about air is that you hardly think about it, but you need it to survive. However, there are a few situations where air becomes very noticeable because it becomes hard to breathe or the air quality is making you sick. This unpleasant situation could be just around the corner if you don’t change your HVAC air filter often enough.
At Surgi’s Heating, Cooling & Plumbing, we believe that changing your home’s air filter is one of the easiest ways to maintain good indoor air quality. We want the best for you and your family, which is why we’re here to share what can happen if you don’t change your HVAC filter.
Poor Indoor Air Quality
The air filter inside your HVAC unit is essential for keeping many different particles out of the air you breathe. You can expect your air filter to remove the following contaminants and more:
- Pollen
- Pet dander
- Dust
- Dirt
Since the filter collects all of these particles, it eventually becomes too full to continue filtering. When this happens, you start breathing in all of those particles, and your home’s indoor air quality (IAQ) declines.
Poor IAQ leads to a whole host of negative health effects, which includes eye irritation, nausea, sore throat, stuffy nose, headaches and sneezing. If you or a loved one frequently experiences these symptoms and you haven’t changed your air filter in a while, it’s time to replace it.
High Energy Bills
It isn’t hard for air to flow through a clean air filter, but when it becomes clogged, your HVAC system has to work harder to maintain the airflow. There are many consequences of an overworked HVAC unit, including higher energy bills.
If you’ve noticed that you’re paying more for electricity, but you haven’t been using your HVAC unit more than usual, the air filter could be clogged. An easy way to figure out if this is the case is to find the slot on your unit where the filter is located, remove it, and see if it’s filled with dirt.
HVAC Unit Breakdowns
Since clogged air filters lead to overworked heating and cooling units, it’s only natural that breakdowns may occur. Usually, these breakdowns are preceded by smaller mishaps, including poor HVAC performance and an overheated unit. If you’ve noticed that your HVAC system isn’t adequately cooling or heating your home, check the status of the air filter.
A clogged air filter can lead to a broken blower motor, which is one of the most important components of your heater or air conditioner. A blower motor controls the airflow throughout the unit, distributing air throughout your home. When the blower motor has to work overtime to push air through the filter, it can overheat and stop working.
If you notice that your HVAC unit is hot to the touch, or your home isn’t cooling or heating to a comfortable temperature, change the air filter before it’s too late. If the whole unit breaks down, the heater or AC repair could be very costly. However, changing the air filter is easy to do and doesn’t require professional AC maintenance.
Schedule Professional AC Maintenance Today!
If you’re concerned about your HVAC unit or you would like professional assistance replacing your air filter, Surgi’s Heating, Cooling & Plumbing is here to help. We’re committed to improving New Orleans’ indoor air quality and keeping our neighbors comfortable inside their homes. Just give us a call to schedule an appointment!
