One of the very important maintenance tasks you should be completing on your own will have a surprising impact on your heating system, and that’s changing your air filter every month during heavy periods of use.

You may assume that the only threat posed by a dirty air filter is the ability for your indoor air to get contaminated with allergens and other pollutants. This isn’t the case, though. While a clogged enough filter will eventually threaten your indoor air quality, its intended job is to block particles from damaging the inside of your heater, by pummeling the components or jamming the fan. However, when your air filter is dirty enough, it can do just as much damage. Read on to learn just how your air filter impacts your heater.

The Air Filter Impacts Your Comfort

Your heater’s air filter may seem like a relatively small component of your heating system, however, looks can be deceiving! This filter sits between the intake air and your HVAC system—this placement means that a dirty filter will prevent air from circulating through the vents.

In other words, you won’t have enough air to stay warm from your heater. When you have a hot or cold spot throughout the home, or when the temperature never seems to match the thermostat, a clogged air filter can be the culprit. Discomfort is just the start of the story.

Your Air Filter Helps with Heating Efficiency

The blower fan of your furnace or heat pump system will have to work a lot harder to try to bring in the right amount of air if a clogged or dirty filter blocks that airflow. But if you change your air filter regularly, you can easily improve efficiency, and lower your monthly heating bills as a result.

Air Filters Help Prevent HVAC Damage

When it comes down to it, your climate control systems are designed to take in a set amount of air each time it cycles on. When your airflow suffers, the components of that system have to work a lot harder to do their jobs. This means you can expect a lot of wear and tear over the season—and your heater may fail right when you need it the most.

Air filters do come at a price, of course, and the less expensive ones have to be changed more frequently. However, this cost is next to nothing when you compare it to the inconvenience of experiencing a heating emergency and needing to call in a heating professional ASAP. Changing your air filter on a routine basis, and scheduling annual preventive maintenance with our staff, is the best way to ensure that your heater lasts a long time, with as few problems as possible.

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