Did you know that the majority of the heating and air conditioning system problems that we encounter here at Goose Creek Heating & Air are typically because of dirty air filters? This is unfortunate because changing out your dirty air filters is an extremely easy and do it yourself task. Most Charleston, SC homeowners don’t realize just how damaging a dirty air filter can be. Continue reading below to learn more about just how damaging a dirty air filter can be for your Charleston, SC heating and air conditioning system.
Decreased Comfort
Dirty air filters are clogged air filters and when your air filters are clogged, they are essentially suffocating your heating and cooling system. A dirty air filter is almost like trying to breath with your hand clamped over your mouth and nose. Your HVAC system works the same way with a dirty air filter. The layer of built up dirt and dust restricts the amount of air that your heating and cooling system can “breathe in” and “breathe out”. That means your home comfort will inevitably suffer because your HVAC system has to work even harder to heat and cool your home.
HVAC System Issues & Potential Breakdowns
Like we mentioned above, clogged air filters make it harder for your HVAC system to work properly. The amount of strain caused by a dirty air filter means that your systems’ motors are working harder than needed. This adds unnecessary stress and wear and tear to your system which can lead to an earlier breakdown or a costly repair.
Increased Energy Bills
With your HVAC system working harder than necessary to heat and cool your Charleston, SC home, your energy usage will simultaneously increase. This results in higher than normal utility bills. A clogged filter can even lead to a 15% increase in energy usage! That’s a lot of money going down the drain from ignoring your air filters.
Poor Indoor Air Quality
Finally, a clogged air filter means you will see a decrease in your Charleston, SC home indoor air quality. Your air filters are designed to trap and catch pollutants, such as pollen, dust, dirt, dander, etc., from circulating throughout the air in your home. When they are dirty, they can no longer catch these contaminants which means they will now going straight to the air in your home. This has a negative impact on your indoor air quality. Poor indoor air quality can lead to chronic allergies and it can be dangerous for those with asthma and other preexisting respiratory problems.
Did reading the above problems scare you? Don’t worry, you can easily prevent these painful problems. Because every Charleston, SC home environment is unique, we recommend checking on your air filters once a month and then assessing whether or not you should change it. If you have further questions about your air filters or your heating and air conditioning system in general, give Goose Creek Heating & Air a call today!