Don’t Forget to Keep a Fresh Filter in Your Heating System!

The furnace is one of the most popular of all home heating systems. It is a forced air heating system, meaning that the furnace heats air directly, and then distributes that heated air throughout a home via a system of ductwork. A key component in this type of heating system is the air filter.

There are air filters that have high MERV (minimum efficiency reporting value) ratings, and which are designed to protect and improve the indoor air quality in your home. The standard air filter in a furnace is not really there to serve this purpose, but to protect the components in the furnace themselves from dust and dirt buildup. A dirty air filter can seriously impede your furnace in Ludlow, VT.

What a Dirty Air Filter Means for Your Furnace

A dirty air filter has the potential to negatively affect your furnace in a few different ways. First of all, you can expect efficiency levels to drop. When your furnace heats your home, all of the air that it heats passes through the air filter in the system. If the filter is clogged up, then the furnace is going to have to work harder than it should in order to do its job. That will result in increased energy consumption, and increased heating costs will be along for the ride.

Your indoor air quality may suffer as well. Yes, this air filter is there to protect the system, and not to boost indoor air quality. However, a dirty air filter can create so much airflow resistance that it is easier for heated air to bypass the filter entirely. That means that the pollutants in that air can squeeze by it as well.

Finally, there is the wear and tear on your system to consider. As your heater works harder than it should, it will incur more wear and tear than it should. This increases the risk of repair needs and breakdowns. Short cycling can develop, as heat becomes trapped in the system, and that constant starting and stopping can really take a toll.

Protect your heater and its performance by keeping a fresh air filter in place. Call HB Energy Solutions for all your energy needs. HB Energy Solutions delivers peace of mind.

 

Comments are closed.