The Other Reason to Change Your Furnace Filter

SAN MATEO — When people talk about the importance of changing furnace filters, the conversation usually revolves around air quality. Obviously this is a concern, as 85 percent of the air you breathe inside your home is first circulated through your HVAC system, but there’s another, less prominent reason to change your air filter on a regular basis.

When an air filter gets inundated with dirt and dust, it restricts airflow to and from your HVAC system, which, if left unresolved, can result in a complete system shutdown. Additionally, a dirty filter requires your HVAC unit to expend more energy, which will increase your power bill and decrease the lifespan of your system. Considering the substantial cost of system repair and replacement, in conjunction with the aforementioned health consequences, it’s easy to see why regularly changing your furnace filter is a worthwhile investment.