If you, like so many other homeowners, use a forced-air heating system to keep your home warm and cozy, then you know how effective and reliable these systems are. You hopefully also know how important it is that you keep a fresh air filter in your system. Doing so is necessary if you hope to get the best performance possible from your heat pump or furnace.
While you may think that forgetting about the filter is a relatively minor problem in the grand scheme of things, a dirty air filter can actually cause some serious problems. If you value the performance of your heater in Arlington, then you’ll keep a fresh air filter on deck. Doing so will help you to avoid these issues.
High Heating Costs
So what if my filter is dirty? you may think. The heater is still working. Well, that may be true, but it most likely is not working as efficiently as it ought to. When you force your heater to force hot air through a very dirty filter, it is going to use more energy than it should have to. This will lead to increased energy consumption, and you’ll see this reflected in higher energy costs.
Decreased Performance Quality
It is also likely that the overall performance quality of your heater will decline, even as you find yourself paying more in order to heat your home. This is a very frustrating situation, but one that is easily resolved with a simple filter change. If your furnace or heat pump is struggling to heat your home, or if it starts short-cycling, the filter is one of the first things to check.
Poor Indoor Air Quality
The filter in your furnace is of a relatively low MERV (minimum efficiency reporting value). It’s not really there to remove pollutants from the air in your home, though you can certainly invest in more efficient, designated filters for this use. The standard air filter is really intended to protect the inner workings of the heater from pollutant buildup. Should the filter be dirty enough, however, pollutants may bypass it, wind up in the system, and then be distributed throughout your home.
Contact Polar Bear Air Conditioning & Heating Inc. with any questions that you may have about your air filter.