A dirty air filter can have a significant impact on the air quality and efficiency of your home. When air filters become clogged and dirty, they begin to allow dust and debris to pass through the ventilation system into your home. This can create more dust, leave a film on all surfaces, and re-circulate that same dust and grime through the system over and over again. A clear sign that the air conditioning filter needs to be replaced is when the back of the unit is too hot.
If the filter is very dirty, you may feel warm air coming out the back of the unit. A clogged filter forces the air conditioner to work harder to keep the house cool, leading to more frequent repairs and ultimately shortening the life of the unit. You can reduce the load by simply changing the AC filter regularly. Fans push air through the filter, but if it becomes too clogged with dust, dander, and debris, then the blower has to work harder to pass air through a clogged filter.
This can result in hot and cold spots in your home, making it difficult to reach desired indoor temperature levels. Air filters are designed to filter air, keeping equipment protected from dirt and debris, and keeping indoor air protected from allergens and other contaminants. As warm or cold air flows into the rooms, the unit's fan draws existing air from the rooms through a separate set of “return ducts” and directs it to heat exchange (where it is reheated or cooled). A dirty air filter can spread pollutants that can cause rashes, headaches, eye irritation, sinus problems, asthma or allergy symptoms, and other health problems.
Changing the air filter in your heating and cooling system is one of the simplest and most important maintenance tasks. According to the Diamond Certified Organization, a clogged oven air filter is one of the main causes of equipment failure. When the air filter is clogged, the air handler must try harder to compensate for the blockage of airflow. If your home is tightly sealed, you don't have pets or dust-prone furniture such as cloth-covered carpets and furniture, and you dust and vacuum every day, your air filters will have fewer airborne particles to collect.
The particulate removal efficiency of the filter is inversely related to the energy efficiency of your heating and air system. Particulate capture efficiency increases as filters become dirty; build-up on fibers reduces air openings and allows filters to capture more particulates. If this is the situation in your home, a dirty air filter may be to blame; however, discomfort is only one of many potential issues. Air filters are designed to filter out all microscopic particles such as dust, pollen, pet dander, bacteria, plant spores and mold as well as smoke.
An air filter that is not replaced on a regular basis will become clogged with large amounts of airborne particles. The air conditioning filter is not complicated but it can drastically affect your efficiency and indoor air quality. Just like replacing your car's engine oil and air filter every 3,000 miles, a clean HVAC air filter protects your heating system from damage and ultimately from failure altogether. The MERV rating also indicates what percentage of particulate matter that the filter will remove from passing through it.
