What Can Happen if You Don't Replace Your AC Filter

If you don't replace your AC filter, it will start to fail. You will no longer be able to filter the air properly, allowing dust and contaminants to enter the air conditioner. Dust clogs moving parts of an air conditioner, such as motors and fan valves. Airflow is restricted, creating a strain on the system.

If the air filter is clogged and can't trap contaminants like it did before, those things can go back to 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 persist, long-term effects could be respiratory disease, heart disease, or cancer. Replacing the air filter and having the HVAC system inspected regularly are part of a preventive maintenance routine.

Failure to change the air filter can damage other parts of the system and can result in a large repair bill later on. Changing air filters regularly can help preserve the life of your system and make it work more efficiently. The danger of not changing the air filter in the house for a long time is that it will eventually lead to damage to the oven. This means that the entire system will be destroyed by excess heat. Getting the most value out of your home can be as easy as changing air filters.

Homeowners who ignore filters in their heating and air conditioning systems risk increasing energy costs, damaging expensive equipment, and decreasing indoor air quality and personal health. See below to learn what can happen if you don't change your air filters. And if the air conditioning system seems to have not been properly maintained, such as signs of past leaks and dirty filters (and coils), that can also have a big impact on the buyer's attitude. In addition to damaging your air conditioning system, neglecting AC filter changes can also cause mold growth on vent covers, ducts, and inside the air conditioning controller. Most manufacturers recommend that basic filters be changed every 30 to 60 days, but there are other circumstances that could affect that program.

Keep reading to learn more about how air filters work in your HVAC system and what can happen when they aren't changed on a regular basis. Some of the common things that filters block are dust, pollen, lint, mold, hair, animal fur, bacteria and more. While it is possible to operate the system without a filter in the air conditioner, HVAC experts do not recommend it at all. Replacing these coils can be a costly affair because they are very important in the operation of your air conditioning unit. 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. 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. However, some older models have air filters inside them and you may need to have the right tools to replace the filters.

Let's just say that while changing your air conditioner filter is a very simple thing to do, it can have a huge impact on your HVAC performance, life expectancy, and possibly even your health. So instead of waiting to see what happens if you don't change your air filter for a long time, it's best to change it. Especially with gas ovens, this additional friction and heat could even cause a house fire; fires are in fact the most common safety hazard in a home. A modern thermostat will record how often you change your air filter and remind you with an email or phone notification.