Routinely cleaning or replacing your furnace filter is good overall HVAC maintenance. There are some signs your furnace filter is dirty, though, that you should not ignore.
Whether it is the dust in your home, higher energy bills, poor heating, or short cycling, you simply do not want to miss these 5 signs your furnace filter is dirty from a trusted AC repair in Las Vegas, NV, company.
1. A Dusty Home and Your Furnace Filter
One sign that your furnace filter is dirty is excessive dust in your home and on the filter. When your furnace pulls air into it to heat, the filter captures most of the debris and dust, which can eventually cause clogs.
Dirty filters allow debris to push through the furnace and into the home’s HVAC system. As that happens, dust passes through each of the vents and lands on your furniture and ceiling fan. While that is not where all dust comes from, if you notice an increase in the amount of dust present, you should check your furnace filter.
A dirty filter like this also lets dust particles get into the furnace’s working components. This material can damage the system, so it’s important to know about the importance of air cleaners and air filters in the home. A breakdown could also lead to system inefficiencies.
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2. Changes in the Heating Quality
When you turn on the furnace, you expect warm air. If it does not seem as warm as it used to, that could be a problem. A dirty furnace filter makes it harder for the system to produce comfortable air.
You may notice reduced airflow through the system. Dirt and debris are clogging the filter, preventing air from entering the system and, therefore, from exiting through the vents.
You may also notice that your home is not as warm as you expect. If you suddenly turn up the heat beyond what you normally do, that could be a sign that your furnace filter is dirty. However, increasing the temperature does not necessarily help warm your home better.
3. You Are Using More Energy
No one likes to deal with higher energy bills. However, a dirty furnace filter could increase the overall inefficiencies of your system. You may not notice it until your heating bill arrives.
Clogged air filters make it much harder for the system to pull air into it. As a result, the system has to work harder and longer to get enough air to warm up to your expectations, driving up your costs.
Over time, the furnace’s fans have to work much harder to produce heat. This makes it hard to reach the desired warmth and could mean your system is working nonstop. That means you pay more to heat your home to the same temperature as before.
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4. The System Short Cycles
Short cycling of a furnace means the system turns on and off often. You may notice that it sounds like your furnace is turning on for only a few minutes before shutting back off. Doing this often stresses the system and drives up your energy costs.
Short cycling can occur for several reasons. One of the most common is dust and dirt buildup on the heat exchanger, which causes excessive heat. At that point, the system automatically shuts down to prevent a fire.
If the system is short-cycling, turn it off and check the furnace filter as a starting point. You may have other concerns with the system that warrant calling a heating and air conditioning repair company out to your home for repairs. Do not put off this maintenance task, which is covered by our satisfaction guarantee.
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5. Smells and Allergies Worsen
Indoor air quality impacts your health and that of your pets. If you notice changes to the air quality, especially new smells or lingering odors, when you turn your furnace on, it could be a sign your furnace filter is dirty. Air has to pass through this filter, meaning it will capture the odors there and push them out into the home.
This also leads to increased risks of allergies. These may occur when more particles get into the air vents because the filter does not catch them. Poor air quality can worsen allergy and asthma symptoms.
Your air filter is the heart of preventing odors and allergies from getting through to your home. If your home has asthma or allergy sufferers, you may benefit from changing your filters more often. That could prevent a significant amount of suffering in your home.
Other Signs Your Furnace Filter Is Dirty
If you are still not sure if you need to change the furnace filter, take a closer look at it. Pull it out and notice if there is a significant amount of noticeable dirt and debris, and change it if so. Some additional reasons to change your furnace filter include the following:
- The manufacturer recommends changing it at a specific interval to improve efficiency. Meet this goal to protect your system’s warranty.
- You are noticing more debris in the air. If you can see the dust, that is a concern.
- There is a burning smell coming from the vents. Make sure to turn off the furnace and investigate or call the fire department.
- Cold spots are developing in various areas of your home. That could indicate debris clogging vents.
- You have not changed the air filter in the last three months. That is especially necessary during the working parts of the year.
Do not put off changing your filter. Contact Ambient Edge if you do not want to do it yourself. Any of these signs that your furnace filter is dirty could mean your system is working much harder than it should.
This increases the risk of breakdowns and shortens the system’s lifespan, so be sure to review our FAQs section to learn more.
Contact Ambient Edge for Your Furnace Filter Changes
Now is the ideal time to call the team at Ambient Edge. We will not only replace your furnace filter and discuss its overall condition with you, but we can also show you how to do it yourself if you would like.
Contact us to arrange an appointment today.
