If you’re one of those homeowners counting your blessings because temperatures are finally starting to warm up, then congratulations! You made it! However, it’s important not to get ahead of ourselves because before we know it, another heating season is going to be upon us.
The smartest move now would be to look back and see what exactly went wrong with your heater. Why was your furnace acting the way it did? How close was it to actually breaking down? The truth might not be what you want to hear.
Sometimes a clogged air filter can cause so much strife in a furnace that you’ll be pushed into either a breakdown or expensive furnace repair in Wayne, NJ. We’ll go over why this component can cause so much trouble, and talk about why it’s so important to clean out your air filter and keep things running smoothly.
What Happens When Your Filter Clogs?
Every forced-air heater like a furnace or heat pump comes with an air filter. This component is designed to keep any contaminants like dust and debris from entering inside the system and causing damage to sensitive (and expensive) parts. While this does help your indoor air quality and make your home a bit cleaner, it’s main focus is to protect the interior of your furnace.
When the air filter gets clogged, it will start stifling the system. This can cause a number of issues that will lead to a breakdown if you’re not careful.
- Increased fuel consumption. A clogged air filter will cause your furnace to start operating inefficiently. It will work harder to produce the same level of heat that it has in the past, which will consume more fuel and cost you more money.
- Stress on the system. Certain components will start to get stressed as the system works harder for less heat. A clogged air filter will compound this stress the more clogged it gets, so be careful and change out the filter when you can.
- Poor airflow. If no air can get into the system, how is that air supposed to be heated and sent back into your home? A clogged air filter will inhibit airflow and cause your stifling furnace to struggle sending air through your vents.
- Contaminants damaging the system. When your air filter gets too clogged, it won’t be able to do its job properly. The contaminants that it’s trying to protect your furnace’s sensitive components from will sneak inside and do damage that will require repairs.
- Overheating. One of the worst things that can happen to your furnace is overheating. Especially if you’ve got a gas furnace, this is always bad and can sometimes become a safety hazard. Luckily, furnaces will automatically shut down if they overheat, but this is a problem that needs to be addressed.
Basically, neglecting your air filter is going to eventually lead to a broken furnace. When you replace your air filter on a regular basis, you ensure that a certain set of problems doesn’t occur to your furnace.
Contact MarGo Plumbing Heating Cooling Inc. if you need help with your furnace.