Dirty air filters can create many problems with your heating and cooling system's efficiency. And the dirtier your filters are, the more money and energy will be wasted. When you change your air filter regularly, you avoid these problems, and save energy and money throughout the year.

Dirty air filters will cause the following problems with your HVAC system:

• Restricted airflow -- All of the air in your home passes through the furnace's air filter, which picks up more and more dirt with every pass. The more dirt in the filters, the harder it is to push the air through the furnace. This leads to reduced efficiency, and in the worst case, may cause your heating and cooling equipment to overheat and fail.
• Wasted energy -- A full filter requires more energy to push air through it. The cleaner your air filters, the less energy your furnace will consume.
• Larger environmental impact -- The more energy your system uses and fuel it consumes, the worse it is for the environment. Therefore, if you change the air filter regularly, you can reduce your home's carbon footprint.
• Poor air quality -- Dirty filters cause the air inside your home to harbor dirt and dust particles, which can cause breathing problems and aggravate allergies and asthma.
• Increased costs -- The more energy it takes to heat and cool the rooms of your house, the higher your energy bills will be each month.

For best results, you should change your air filter regularly—at least once every month during winter—to counteract the increased use of the system, which sends more dirt through the filter on a daily basis. When the furnace isn't used consistently, every three months should suffice.

For more information about air filters and other ways you can save energy and money this winter in your Ohio home, contact JonLe Heating & Cooling. We provide expert HVAC service to the Greater Cincinnati area, and are happy to answer any questions you may have. 

Air filter image via Shutterstock.