Can you get sick from not changing air filter?

As a result, immediate problems could include itchy eyes or throat, headaches, and more. If you continue with the same air filter and the problems keep pace, the long-term impacts could be serious. They include possible heart disease, respiratory disease and even cause cancer, experts say. As long as you change your air filter regularly, you can minimize the effects of dirty air.

Contaminants and small contaminants can make you sick if you don't keep the filter clean. A clogged filter can cause your heating and cooling system to become inefficient. All air passing through your systems must pass through the filter. If the filter is dirty and full of dust, airflow is restricted.

This can cause your heating and cooling system to work harder than it should, and ultimately lead to premature wear and tear, total system failure, or costly utility bills every month. If the air filter is clogged and can't trap contaminants like it used to, 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.

Airborne particles come in a variety of sizes, most of which cannot be seen. Particles smaller than 10 microns, such as those mentioned above, are easily inhaled. These particles have the potential to irritate the eyes, nose and throat and affect both the lungs and the heart. Sealed buildings using old filters allow poor quality air to recirculate indoors.

We inhale these particles and, depending on their sensitivity, they can cause minor problems such as watery eyes, coughing, sneezing, or trigger symptoms related to asthma and other long-term respiratory complications. The air in your air conditioner is filtered through the system five to seven times a day. That's a lot of circulation, carrying whatever's inside your air conditioner. Pollen, mold and germs will spread rapidly throughout any building.

All of the above can make people sick. Change the air conditioner filter and avoid sick building syndrome. Your employees will thank you for not causing them to suffer from allergies and illnesses. If the filter becomes too clogged with dust, dander, and debris, then the blower has to work harder to pass air through the blocked filter.

Depending on the type of air filter you use, you will need to follow different programs to ensure that the filter is always working and achieving optimal performance. If you have a higher efficiency filter and don't change the AC filter often enough, a buildup of moisture can cause mold to build up in the ducts, leading to serious mold infestations. After all, your filter's primary responsibility is to prevent contaminants, such as pet dander and dust, from reaching the air your family breathes. In addition, the EPA states that some MERV 12 filters and most MERV 13 filters are almost as effective as HEPA filters in reducing airborne particulate matter related to adverse health effects.

Again, the price to fix this problem is higher than simply buying a new air filter every few months. When air filters are charged, the ability for air to pass as designed through the duct system is reduced. The health problems you experience as a result of the dirty filter are likely due to allergic reactions to particles in the air. Poor airflow can cause the color of walls and furniture to change over time, according to HVAC experts.

Changing filters can have a profound impact on indoor air quality, energy costs, and maximize the value of your home in the U.S. UU. If you find that old filters look like nothing, not even air, could get through them, it's time to contact an HVAC professional. Given the money you've already invested in your home, not to mention the priority you place on your health, not changing air filters regularly simply doesn't make sense.

If you have upgraded to a higher efficiency filter, as part of a COVID mitigation strategy or simply to alleviate allergy symptoms, it's important to know that these filters need to be changed more frequently than standard HVAC filters. If you've never changed your air conditioning filter, the easiest way is to have an HVAC technician do it the first time. There are many homeowners who shrug their shoulders and get their boiler or air conditioner tuned every year. When you change your air conditioner filter every month during peak cooling season, you can save about 15% each month on utilities, as well as avoid repair problems due to airflow restrictions.

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Elisa Michocki
Elisa Michocki

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