A furnace uses a series of parts that should work together to provide your home with heat during the cold months. For instance, the furnace depends on air filters to clean the air by trapping dust, debris, and other airborne particles and preventing them from infiltrating the air inside your home. Unfortunately, these filters may clog with contaminants, reducing their efficiency. Thus, you should hire a heating services expert to change your filters or clean them if washable for proper airflow and peak efficiency. Below are the consequences of dirty furnace filters.

Increased Energy Bills 

Your furnace depends on continuous air recirculation, where filters trap airborne contaminants. However, debris may gradually clog the filters, impeding airflow. When this happens, your unit will strain to draw sufficient air for heating. Ultimately, this results in the heating unit expending more energy to provide an average heating output. Note that the more contaminants clog the filters, the higher the inefficiency and the higher the heating bills. Therefore, you must replace your air filters regularly to save on energy usage.

Poor Performance

When the furnace filters are dirty, contaminants can bypass them and infiltrate other components. This may lead to debris collecting on the blower, impeding its operation. Note that this results in additional strain, increasing energy usage, and inconsistency in indoor temperatures. In addition, dirt may accumulate on the thermocouple, causing the pilot to go out. On the other hand, clogged filters can lead to dust and debris collecting on the heat exchanger, causing the furnace to overheat and short cycle. Since short cycling causes excessive wear and tear, you should contact a furnace repair expert to clean your air filters for optimal year-round performance.

Lower Air Quality

Clogged air filters cause pet dander, pollen, and other debris to compromise air quality. This is because dirty filters allow the recirculation of these pollutants back into your home. Consequently, you may suffer from health-related issues, especially respiratory infections. Moreover, clogged filters increase humidity in the system, leading to mold growth in damp spots within ducts. Ultimately, this results in the circulation of mold spores across your home and can lead to chronic allergies.

Reduced Airflow

If your filters collect too many contaminants, it may hinder their function. Subsequently, these filters may reduce airflow, increasing strain on other components. Furthermore, you may notice uneven heating across your house with some cold spots. As a result, your heating appliance will work much harder to reach a comfortable temperature, spiking your heating bills. 

Note that when you neglect to change your filters, they may cause a premature system failure. Therefore, schedule routine furnace repairs and maintenance checks with a heating service expert to keep your unit in good working order.

Contact heating services to learn more.