Is Neglecting to Change Your Air Filter Really That Important?

Neglecting to change your home's air filter can lead to serious health issues such as respiratory disease or even cancer. Learn more about how changing your air filter regularly can help improve your health.

Is Neglecting to Change Your Air Filter Really That Important?

As a result of neglecting to change your air filter, immediate problems could include itchy eyes or throat, headaches, and more. If you continue with that same air filter and the problems keep pace, the long-term impacts could be serious. They include possible heart disease, respiratory disease and even cause cancer, experts say. If the air filter is clogged and can't trap contaminants like it did before, those things can go back to the air that everyone in your home breathes.

Immediate problems may include headaches, itchy eyes or throat, and dizziness. If air filters are not changed and problems persist, long-term effects could be respiratory disease, heart disease, or cancer. Regardless of why it happens, you may wonder if forgetting to regularly change your air filter is really that important. A clogged filter can cause the heating and cooling system to become inefficient.

All air passing through your systems must pass through the filter. If the filter is dirty and full of dust, airflow is restricted. This can cause your heating and cooling system to work harder than it should, and ultimately can lead to premature wear and tear, total system failure, or costly utility bills every month. Contaminants and small contaminants can make you sick if you don't keep the filter clean.

If the air filter is clogged and can't trap pollutants like before, those things can return to the air that everyone in your home breathes. If you neglected to change the AC filter for some time, it is very likely that a lot of dust will accumulate inside the ducts. Some clean the air in your home better than others, and a rating called MERV (which stands for Minimum Efficiency Report Value) can help you understand the effectiveness of each air filter option you encounter. The only type of filters that trap allergens and spores are HEPA, or high-energy particulate air filters. These filters are ideal for domestic use because they are effective against common household air pollutants.

If the filter becomes too clogged with dust, dander and debris, the blower has to work harder to get air through the blocked filter. Failure to change air filters often can cause huge problems for your home and your health. Here at Filter King, you can order custom air filters that match the size of your air ducts and the MERV rating you want. Once the air filter has been clogged long enough, it will become a breeding ground for germs, mold, and other unpleasant elements. If you have a higher efficiency filter and don't change the AC filter often enough, a buildup of moisture can cause mold to build up in the ducts, leading to serious mold infestations. Most residential homes can accommodate air cleaners up to MERV 13, but you may want to consult with a professional HVAC technician before using anything other than MERV 9.In addition to changing your air filter on a regular basis, you should also make sure to schedule annual adjustment appointments with a professional for your heating and cooling systems.

An air filter can collect and house these allergens and allow them to circulate around homes when the air conditioner is in use. When air filters are not constantly changed, they become clogged by the accumulation of particles and contaminants that adhere to the filter. This means that you can be much more diligent in remembering to replace your air filter regularly, but is it really improving your symptoms? Depending on the type of air filter you use, you will need to follow different programs to ensure that the filter is always working for optimal performance.