Without a new air filter, the furnace will overheat every time you start it up again. This is known as short cycling.
Dirty furnace filters
make the furnace work harder than it should due to a decrease in air flow. The more your furnace works, the faster your parts will wear out and need repairs.If the air filter is not checked often enough, it will eventually become clogged to the point where air cannot pass through it. When the furnace is working, the lack of air flow will trap heat in the system. As the temperature inside the system continues to rise, the limit switch will turn the furnace on and off to prevent it from overheating. This will temporarily mitigate the problem, but will not resolve the issue at its root.
If the air filter is clogged and can't trap pollutants like before, those things can get back into the air that everyone in your home breathes. Immediate problems may include headaches, itchy eyes or throat, and dizziness. If air filters are not changed and problems continue, long-term effects could be respiratory disease, heart disease, or cancer. A dirty filter reduces airflow to the HVAC system and makes it work harder.
It uses more energy, which costs you more money. The long-term effect of not changing the HVAC filter is the eventual failure of the unit. However, before that happens, the system will become clogged with dirt and dust from outside. They are inserted into a specific location in HVAC systems and act as a barrier to prevent contaminants and other particles from circulating in the air or reaching sensitive parts of the system. This is because when the filter is full or clogged with debris, the furnace has to work harder to draw air into the system. If you find it difficult to replace the air filters, do not try to do it on your own, as it could cause further damage.
You may be wondering how important the air filter can really be, if it's been so long without changing it and the system apparently works well. Some of the common things that filter blocks are dust, pollen, lint, mold, hair, animal hair, bacteria and more. Replacing these coils can be expensive because they are very important in the operation of your air conditioning unit. If the air filter is dirty and clogged, it will not allow an adequate amount of air flow through the system. Most filters are located in areas that can be easily accessed, and all you need is to remove the old one and put on a new one. However, there are times when your HVAC will show warning signs that filters are about to change.
Evaporative coils, which help remove heat from the air to keep the house cool, can freeze if they are overworked. While the filter is designed to accommodate these tiny elements, the build-up creates an almost impenetrable barrier so that air cannot fully flow, which can ultimately cause multiple problems throughout the HVAC system. The more people who live under your roof, the more likely you will have to change your air filter, so be sure to check it often. Today's air filters are designed to improve indoor air quality by removing harmful air pollutants such as dust and pollen.
Since clogged air filters make the system strive to create airflow, hot or cold air cannot properly go where it is needed.
