Many people do not realise that a furnace has an air filter and it is necessary to replace the air filter in your furnace all year round.

When it comes to getting the most out of your furnace, maintaining it, checking, and changing your air filter is very important. The filter’s job is to collect dust and dirt that might otherwise go into the furnace and cause serious problems which may lead to it working inefficiently or worse, lower its life expectancy. Keeping up with regular maintenance can avoid a breakdown later.  

The filter does its job pretty well, but there is one thing it cannot do, that is, get rid of the dust and dirt that it collects. This is why it is essential to replace your furnace filters every 1-3 months. It is a well-known fact that replacing furnace filters is an essential task that is often neglected or unknown. 

What happens when you forget to replace the filter?

Depending on the type of filter you have, whether you have pets at home, and how well your furnace is operating, it is recommended to replace your filter every 1-3 months. 

What happens when you don’t change your furnace filter? 

High Energy Costs – Furnaces have a huge impact on your energy bills. Nearly half of your monthly energy costs are controlled by your furnace. But with a dirty filter a furnace has to work harder as it will run longer and more often thus increasing your energy costs during the winter time as your furnace struggles to keep your home warm. 

Safety Concerns – The furnace will have to work harder to compensate for the reduced airflow when air filters are clogged/ dirty. Not only can this increase your energy consumption and hike the power costs, but it can also cause damage to your furnace’s limit switch, which controls the fan. Dirty filters can also cause various safety concerns such as fire irruption, clogging, overheating and short cycling thus causing your furnace to turn off.

Poor Air Quality – The purpose of any air filter is to filter the number of dust particles, pet hair, or any other allergens that enter you. When the air runs through a dirty filter, it can increase the likelihood of such allergens thus making your home environment unhealthy. 

HVAC Unit Lifespan – When you don’t replace your air filter it will eventually become clogged and stop allowing air to pass through. In such cases, when the furnace is running, the lack of airflow will gradually trap the heat in the system and shut down the furnace to prevent it from overheating. This can reduce the functionality of your furnace unit. So, without a new air filter, your furnace will overheat every time it starts up making it harder for your furnace to work. Eventually its parts can wear out and may require repairs or replacements. In the long run, it will shorten the lifespan of your HVAC unit. 

Winters are cold, but your house shouldn’t be. When your furnace starts blowing cold air or you find yourself relieved each time your heater kick starts, it may be time to get your system inspected. Don’t wait until something goes wrong for a tune-up. If you’re looking for peace of mind all year round, consider enrolling into one of our Protection Plans. Our heating and cooling protection plans have you covered for most repair costs if your units expectedly stop working. And come with annual maintenance to ensure your system is in working order.