Furnaces are invaluable appliances that allow hot air to circulate throughout your home, which is especially important during those winter months when temperatures take a nosedive. However, there are times when a furnace may struggle or fail to provide the comforting warmth homeowners might expect, especially if they’ve been using one for a few years. Your first instinct might be to contact Columbia’s trusted furnace repair company to investigate the issue, but the cause might be pretty straightforward.
Not only can a dirty furnace filter cause no heat, but it can also lead to additional problems that could impact your furnace severely.
How Do Furnace Filters Get Dirty?
Dirty air filters are a common source of issues with HVAC system components, including the furnace. Air filters act as protective barriers for your furnace. They keep unwanted particles and contaminants from building up throughout your system and keep your indoor air quality (IAQ) at a satisfactory level. As a result, these filters can accumulate a significant amount of debris over time, especially if left alone for several months. Some of the items that gather around your air filter include:
- Dust
- Dirt
- Pollen
- Pet dander
- Smoking pollutants
- Mold spores
Signs You Might Have a Dirty Furnace Filter
If you feel something is amiss with your furnace, such as low heating from a poorly performing unit, then a dirty air filter may be to blame. There are multiple symptoms you can watch out for that may indicate your filter is dirty and needs addressing.
Dirty Indoor Environment
When you notice dust around air vents or signs of built-up debris throughout the rest of your house, the filter might not reduce in-air particles as efficiently as before. These substances can gather and linger without proper filtration, producing less-than-ideal living conditions.
More Allergic Reactions
Higher pollutant levels in your home mean more chances for allergic reactions. For example, a dirty filter can’t limit substances brought in by your cat or dog after spending time outside. So, if you find yourself reaching for the antihistamines more frequently, it could have to do with your air filter.
Slow Heat Circulation
Some air filters can slightly impact the airflow in your home, even when they’re new. Now imagine one of those with a heaping collection of dust around it. What inevitably follows is a furnace that slowly supplies heat throughout the house, meaning you wait longer to get the results you crave following a cold front.
Lukewarm Performance
A congested filter often translates into a furnace that sacrifices a good amount of performance. You’ll notice this when less air seems to come through the vents, leading to poor temperature moderation and comfort levels.
Issues a Dirty Furnace Filter Can Produce
On top of affecting your at-home quality of life by failing to combat in-air pollutants and reducing comfort levels during colder weather, dirty furnace filters can produce concerning issues that may leave you without a working HVAC while leaving a significant dent in your bank account.
Higher Utility Bills
An HVAC that struggles to meet temperature settings due to clogging, such as from a dirty filter, will usually work harder to compensate for lost performance. This leads to increased energy consumption, which drives up your utility bills. If you notice increased energy bills from the past few months, and it’s been a while since you last replaced the filter, give it a look. You might save some money and enjoy better results from this simple fix.
System Issues
Clogged air filters don’t pair well with furnaces in the long run. The system might short cycle throughout the day due to limited airflow or escalate into total furnace failure when left alone for too long. Depending on your setup, the damage may extend to other parts of your HVAC, resulting in component failure and driving up the cost of repairs.
What You Can Do To Address a Malfunctioning Furnace
The question, “Can a dirty furnace filter cause no heat?” is only part of what you need to consider as a homeowner. Since clogged filters are potentially detrimental to your HVAC, staying on top of any problems that might arise is critical to your safety and convenience.
In many cases, checking your air filter should be one of the first steps you take when determining why something might be wrong with your HVAC. It’s a relatively easy piece to remove and either clean or replace, depending on the type of filter used in your setup. If it’s been a while since you checked your air filter, consider wearing a mask and goggles to protect your face from any dust you may shake loose.
Aim to clean or replace the air filter for your furnace every one to two months so you can keep indoor dust levels to a minimum and maintain consistent airflow. You may need to remove a couple of screws to access the filter; otherwise, it’s as simple as sliding one out and slipping a new one in. New filters are generally inexpensive and often come in multipacks, so you can save some money while improving indoor air quality.
Keep Your Furnace Clean and Functional With Topline Heating & Air
Can a dirty furnace filter cause no heat? It almost certainly can, but your filter is only one aspect to consider when considering the state of your HVAC system’s furnace. Thankfully, the experts at Topline Heating & Air leverage years of experience and know-how to offer services of the highest quality in your area, including furnace maintenance and repairs.
We maintain a five-star reputation throughout Pennsylvania thanks to our friendly and professional technicians, community involvement, and world-class services, and we are eager to provide the same for you. Each job is an opportunity to make a difference and learn more so we can best serve you and other customers. Call us at (717) 628-6825 or (717) 482-1667 to speak with one of our specialists today and keep your home as comfortable as possible.