Air filters are similar to home insurance. They’re there to help protect you, but you don’t always notice their presence. If you don’t have home insurance, then anytime you have unexpected damage (let’s be honest, you normally don’t plan on these things happening) you’ll have to pay for the repairs out pocket. Ouch. The same philosophy applies to air filters for your Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system. Filters provide your heating and cooling system with the protection they need to work efficiently.
What You Could Be Risking
The air in your home is filled with tiny particles and contaminants. Some of these particulates aren’t anything to be worried about, but they can deal some hefty damage to your HVAC system. In fact, furnace filters were first created to protect your HVAC system, only recently have they been focused towards improving indoor air quality. Dust and dirt can gum up the interior mechanisms of your heating system. Proper filtration is an important part of minimizing costly maintenance fees for your home. Replacing a heating and cooling system is not something you want to experience if at all possible.
Check out the image below to see the average costs of HVAC maintenance and repair. Which looks better – the $8 every 3 months or the brand new furnace for over $4000?
Bottom Line
Air filters trap unwanted particles and prevent them from entering your HVAC system. They essentially provide you with two services in one since they’re cleaning your air and minimizing interior damage. To answer the original question, NOT using air filters does indeed increase costs since your heating and cooling system is more vulnerable to costly damage from particulates in the unfiltered air.
Let us know below if you have any questions about your furnace filter or HVAC system!
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