What Happens If You Don't Change Your Home's Air Filter?

Changing the air filter inside your home is one of the most common jobs a homeowner performs, and yet also one of the most neglected. Usually, this comes from renters who have previously had this service performed for them as part of their rental agreement, but nevertheless, failure to regularly change the air filters in your home can result in regular air conditioning repair calls. Here are a few things that can happen to your home's ductwork and air conditioning unit if you fail to change your filters.

More Frequent Clogs

Your home's HVAC system relies on a complex network of ductwork that delivers cold air to all corners of your house. If your air filter is dirty, your unit will get clogged more often. Dirt will eventually find its way into your ductwork and collect on the inside of your walls. When that happens, it's only a matter of time before your system shuts down and you have to schedule an air conditioning repair service.

Skyrocketing Energy Costs

The harder your air conditioning system has to work, the more energy it will require to operate, which will result in higher utility bills and more money out of your pocket. Eventually, the unit will be so overworked that it fails and you'll need an AC repair service repair the unit and clean the inside of your ductwork out.

Dirty, Stale Air

Your air filter helps ensure that dirt doesn't get inside your AC unit, which results in cleaner air being delivered into your home. Moreover, the constant circulation helps cool your house down; if there's no airflow, your air gets stagnant. What you're left with is uncirculated air that is not only dirty and musty but also unhealthy. If anyone in your house has breathing or allergy problems, changing your air filters is one of the best things you can do for your health.

Cooling Takes Longer

Some rooms in your house are almost always going to be warmer in the summertime than others. That's because the air has to travel farther to get from your AC unit to that room. Unfortunately, if there's less airflow due to a dirty air filter, then those rooms won't get cold very quickly, if at all. If that happens, you'll not only need to hire an air conditioning repair service to fix the overworked AC unit, but you'll also clean out the ductwork as well.

Learn more about air filters by contacting AC repair companies.