It's amazing how something as seemingly minor as an air filter can have such a big impact on your air conditioning system. Your air filter plays a major role in keeping your air conditioner free of the dust and debris that can bog down its performance and efficiency. In addition, your air filter can also capture a wide variety of harmful airborne pollutants, including various bacteria, viruses, and volatile organic compounds.

Changing your air filter is one of the most important maintenance tasks you can carry out to keep your air conditioning running well. Leaving a dirty air filter in place can have wide-ranging consequences on your A/C system, as the following demonstrates.

Reduced Performance

In essence, your air conditioner sucks in indoor air, removes latent heat and moisture from the air, and returns it to your indoor spaces as cool, conditioned air. Needless to say, airflow plays a pretty big role in how your air conditioner works. A dirty air filter can put a wrench in your A/C system's performance by reducing the amount of air that flows into the unit.

An air filter that's completely clogged up with debris can severely restrict or even completely block your A/C system's airflow. Less air output often means less performance, since there's not enough airflow that can be used to cool your home properly.

Shorter Lifespan

Believe it or not, a dirty air filter is one of the most common reasons for air conditioner breakdowns. Your air conditioner has to work harder to overcome the blockage caused by your air filter, causing the unit to eventually overheat and break down due to the increased wear and stress. All of this hard work can literally take years off of your air conditioner's projected lifespan.

When properly maintained, most air conditioners are capable for lasting up to 15 years without any issues. If you want your air conditioner to last that long, it's important to have your air filter changed on a regular basis.

Poor Indoor Air Quality

There's a limit to how many allergens and other airborne pollutants your air filter can capture. Once it reaches its limit, allergens and debris that would normally be trapped will instead circulate throughout your home. Keeping a dirty air filter in place can negatively impact your home's indoor air quality and allow harmful allergens to spread unchecked. The negative effects can be particularly devastating if you or others in your household suffer from asthma or allergies.

Changing your air filter regularly is one of the easiest and most effective things you can do to improve your home's IAQ. When combined with other measures for improving IAQ, you'll be able to make your indoor environment healthy and comfortable.

Higher Utility Bills

Being neglectful when it comes to changing your air filter could cost you, especially when it comes to your utility costs. When your air conditioner has to work harder to overcome the effects of a dirty air filter, it also uses more energy. Over time, this can cause a significant increase in your monthly utility bill. Routinely replacing your air filter can help reduce your air conditioner's energy consumption by as much as 15 percent.

Higher Repair Bills

Neglecting your air filter can also prove costly when it comes to repairs. Not changing your air filter on a regular basis could lead to more frequent service visits from your HVAC technician. It can also lead to more expensive repairs, since the stress and strain placed on your air conditioner can cause components to wear out sooner or fail catastrophically.

A typical A/C system repair can cost anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars, whereas a standard air filter only costs a few bucks to replace. When faced with this math, it's easy to see that changing your air filter is the more sensible solution in the long run.

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