Furnaces pull in cool air through return ducts. Inside the furnace, a heat exchanger heats the air before a blower pushes it back out into rooms through vents. The warm air forces the cooler air inside the room into the return duct, and the cycle repeats over again. Each time, the air passes through a filter to cleanse it of dust, debris, and hair that naturally exist in the home. It’s an efficient process, but what happens if you don’t change your filter? Here are three reasons why home and business owners should replace their filters at least every three months.

3 Benefits of Changing the Furnace Filter

1. Boosts Air Quality

High-quality air is clean and clear of pollutants; however, the air inside an average American home is five times more polluted than outdoors. As air cycles around the home, it picks up minuscule particles of dust, pet dander, mold spores, and pollen and moves it from room to room, causing congestion, especially to someone with allergies or asthma.

A furnace filter catches these irritants and prevents them from spreading. If you don’t replace the filter, the irritants build up, making the air more polluted. If you feel more congested than usual or smell a dusty odor, your filters may be due for a change.

2. Keeps Energy Costs Down

Air that has to pass through a filter clogged with dirt meets more resistance, forcing the HVAC unit to work harder to achieve the same airflow.

The increased energy your unit uses pushes up your utility bills. In fact, the United States Department of Energy predicts that regularly changing the filter reduces energy bills by as much as 15%. 

3. Extends the Life of the HVAC Unit

A clean filter prevents you from having to dig deep for costly HVAC repairs for two reasons. First, a congested filter no longer performs efficiently; if air gets through, it’s likely to contain contaminants that get inside the fan blower and damage it.

Second, when an HVAC unit has to consistently work much harder than it should to achieve airflow, the inner workings overheat. At this point, you may need repairs. However, in many cases, you’ll have to replace the whole unit altogether.

When your furnace is due for a maintenance check, call in the professionals from Extreme Heating and Air in Eagle River, AK. Since 2012, the professional team has kept the families and businesses of Anchorage County living and operating in comfortable temperatures all year round. With a team of expert technicians trained in HVAC and plumbing installation and repairs, they’re one of the few local suppliers you can turn to for all your residential and commercial water, air, gas, and liquid services. Call today on (907) 726-1805 or request a quote online.