What are the Dangers of Not Changing Your AC Filter?

If you don't change the AC filter, it will start to fail. You will no longer be able to filter the air properly, allowing dust and contaminants to enter the air conditioner. Dust clogs moving parts of an air conditioner, such as motors and fan valves. Airflow is restricted, creating a strain on the system.

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. A dirty filter reduces airflow to the HVAC system and makes it work harder, using more energy which costs you more money. Probably the biggest danger of not changing your oven's air conditioning filter is that it can damage your HVAC system and reduce its life expectancy.

In my opinion, as a licensed home inspector, if you don't regularly change the filter, you can reduce the life expectancy of your air conditioner from 6 to 12 years. The danger of not changing the air filter in the house for a long time is that it will eventually lead to damage to the oven. This means that the entire system will be destroyed by excess heat. Getting the most value out of your home can be as easy as changing air filters. Homeowners who ignore filters in their heating and air conditioning systems risk increasing energy costs, damaging expensive equipment, and decreasing indoor air quality and personal health.

See below to learn what can happen if you don't change your air filters. In general, most air filter manufacturers and HVAC companies recommend changing the air filter every 90 days or 3 months. If the air conditioner or oven filter is not changed frequently, numerous HVAC and even health problems can arise due to the lack of this simple maintenance element. In addition to damage to your air conditioning system, not changing the filter frequently also results in a poor life experience. And often, I notice that HVAC filters aren't even properly installed with missing filter caps and slots. I remember once inspecting a house where there were several filters on the roof, and the owners who worked for a foreign embassy had no idea about the maintenance of the house, it seems that they never changed the filters.

Personally, I always change my filters every 30 days and recommend the same to my customers: the EPA recommends at least inspecting their filter every month. Let's just say that while changing your air conditioner filter is a very simple thing to do, it can have a huge impact on your HVAC performance, life expectancy, and possibly even your health. If you haven't changed your home's air filters lately, the next step should be to determine which filters you need and replace them as soon as possible. In general, filters with a MERV 16 rating or lower are considered HVAC system grade filters for residential, commercial, and general hospital use. However, some older models have air filters inside them and you may need to have the right tools to replace the filters. When air filters are not constantly changed, they become clogged by the accumulation of particles and contaminants that adhere to the filter. But why is this? How can something as simple as changing an air filter be so important? The truth is that not changing your air filter on a regular basis can cause a number of problems with your HVAC system.

And if the air conditioning system seems to have not been properly maintained, such as signs of past leaks and dirty filters (and coils), that can also have a big impact on the buyer's attitude. The consequences of not changing your AC filter regularly can be severe: from increased energy costs due to reduced airflow efficiency to health risks due to poor indoor air quality. It's important for homeowners to understand why they should change their AC filters regularly in order to keep their HVAC systems running efficiently and safely.