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

One of the most common problems that we encounter at Robinson Service Experts in Waukegan is dirty air filters. They can seem like a very insignificant piece of the overall home comfort puzzle, but the role they play in helping us maintain comfort is a lot larger than most homeowners realize. Regardless if it is cooling season or heating season, having a filthy air filter can cause a number of problems 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 handful of the side effects you might encounter:  

• Decreased 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 prevents 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 running harder because of a filthy air filter, you also run the risk of having the cooling coil freeze inside of the system, because it’s running overtime to provide you with cool air.  
• Total loss of cooling or heating. This is also a possibility if your air filter goes unattended 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  
• Diminished air quality  
• More dust and debris  

• Lack of comfort  

If you’re not sure when you last changed your air filter, it may be a good time to do so in order to avert any potential damage that might come with a filthy 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 Robinson Service Experts a call at 847-306-8730 or schedule an appointment online.