The Effects of a Dirty Air Filter Can Wreak Havoc on Your HVAC System
August 18, 2014 by
Air filters are the unsung heroes of the HVAC system. For most homeowners, they’re out of sight and out of mind. While they’re keeping dust, pollen, pet danger, mold spores and other airborne nasties out of your HVAC system, they’re also the gateway to good health for the furnace and air conditioner. And these heroes can turn to villains if you don’t pay attention: the effects of a dirty air filter can be pretty grim, indeed!
Think about this:
- When air circulates through your house, it’s moving fast enough to pick up a certain amount of dirt, pollen and other particulates and carry them to the air filter. The air filter’s job is to catch and hold them for disposal. But if the air filter is clogged, it can’t hold any more, leaving it to circulate through your home.
- If you think dirt in the ducts is bad, dirt inside the system is even worse. For example, when dirt builds up on the inside components of an air conditioner, the A/C can’t transfer heat as well as it should, and transferring heat is what an A/C is all about! It takes indoor heat and moves it outside where it belongs.
- When air isn’t circulating well, the HVAC system’s fan has to push harder to get conditioned air where you need it. And the harder it pushes, the more strain the system is under, and the more likely it is to wear out or break! Not to mention the fact that you’re probably not happy with the trickles of cool air you’re getting.
If you want to know more about the effects of a dirty air filter in the central Florida heat, call us up at Scott’s Heating & Air Conditioning!
Image via Shutterstock.com
Tags: air filters, effects of a dirty air filter, HVAC maintenance, indoor air qualityCategorised in: Air Filters
