Do you change your air filter each month? Checking and changing A/C filters every month might not seem like such an important item around the house, but a clean air filter can have a dramatically positive effect on the atmosphere of a home. And letting a filter become too clogged can lead to some pretty nasty results. Being a homeowner requires staying on top of what feels like an ever-growing list of chores and household duties. Trying to stay organized and on schedule with every task can quickly feel overwhelming, and can lead many to ponder the necessity of each item on their checklist. While certain tasks can be pushed out longer, or rescheduled for later in a season, one of the more simple tasks that many try to avoid until the last minute is changing their air filters.

A Clogged Filter Lowers Air Quality

Issues from a dirty A/C filter can spread throughout an entire home. Unless there is an exceptional amount of built-up dust and debris on the filter, air will still travel through the filter in some capacity. As air is circulated through the filter, it brings with it the various particles trapped on the filter — dander, pollen, dust, bacteria — and spreads them out through the vents in each room of a home. These particles are then eventually inhaled by the home’s residents as they go about their day none the wiser. Breathing in these offensive particles within the air, spread by a clogged A/C filter, can result in several different health issues, such as headaches, nausea, fatigue, and cold- and flu-like symptoms that can be related to your indoor air quality.

A/C Unit Damage and Avoidable Repairs

By regularly changing out the air filter, the A/C unit itself is able to run longer and more efficiently. But putting off replacing a filer, or allowing it to become excessively dirty and clogged, can lead to an A/C unit breaking down and homeowners paying for repairs that could have been avoided.As dust and debris build up on the filter over time, it becomes harder for the A/C unit to move air, causing the unit to work harder to maintain the same performance, forcing the A/C unit’s motor to run harder, opening it up to potential overheating or breakdown. Changing out the filter helps the A/C continue cycling cool air throughout a home with less effort, which is especially important during the peak cooling months of summer.

Paying More Than Necessary on Summer Cooling

Besides the direct costs for repairs, an A/C unit with a dirty filter will not only affect the unit’s performance but will have an effect on a home’s overall electricity bill as well. As the unit runs harder, it uses more power to circulate the air to maintain a consistent temperature. Simply put, the harder the A/C unit works, the higher the power bill will be. Keeping a clean A/C filter means an annual savings of anywhere from 5–15% on a home’s energy bill, according to the Department of Energy.

All in all, it’s healthier, cleaner, and more cost-effective to take the time to quickly change out an old air filter over a weekend than to skip over the chore and land in potentially hot water. Staying on schedule and tackling the task when it comes up every month or so will end up saving homeowners a lot of time and effort in the long run, and get a much longer life out of the home’s A/C unit to boot. If you’re dealing with a new A/C unit, have never changed a filter, or have general questions about how your home A/C unit is running, reach out to the trained professionals at Duane Blanton Plumbing, Sewer, Heating, and Cooling. The expert service technicians at Duane Blanton are available and able to answer any and all heating and cooling inquiries that you may have. Give them a call today at (847) 855-0075, or reach out online through their convenient online scheduling portal.

This article was originally published on June 23, 2021 on Duane Blanton Family Home Service’s blog.