The Health Risks of Ignoring Your Home Air Filter

You may experience some immediate health issues if you don't change your HVAC filter for a few months. These can include headaches, itchy throat, dizziness, and itchy eyes. If the air filter is not changed, your family can suffer long-term effects. A household air filter installed in air conditioning systems and ovens traps dust particles and other pollutants from the surrounding air and ventilation grilles.

However, a dirty or clogged filter can make you sick because it can't work effectively. If the air filter is clogged and can't keep pollutants out of the air as it should, those items can return to the air you breathe. As a result, immediate problems can include headaches, itchy eyes or throat, and dizziness. If you continue to use that same air filter and problems persist, the long-term impacts could be serious.

According to experts, they can include possible heart and respiratory diseases and even cause cancer. If an air filter becomes clogged, poor circulation will result. This could cause unwanted moisture to build up and cause mold, which is difficult to get rid of and can lead to long-term health complications. If the air filter is clogged and can't trap pollutants like it did before, those items can be left in the air that everyone in the house breathes again.

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 diseases, heart disease, or cancer. When the oven filter is dirty, it can cause even more serious problems. First of all, like the air conditioner filter, it can cause an increase in allergic reactions and even illnesses, since the air circulating around the house is not purified.

If you live in a small house, your air filter can last much longer without needing to be replaced frequently, since less air needs to be filtered. If airflow is significantly reduced, it may mean that the air filter is full of dirt and blocks adequate air flow to the house. While the filter is designed to house these tiny elements, the build-up creates an almost impenetrable barrier, so air cannot flow completely, which can ultimately cause multiple problems to the entire HVAC system. It is necessary to check the condition of the installed air filters and replace or clean them in time.

If you haven't changed your home air filters lately, the next step should be to figure out what filters you need and replace them as soon as possible. You should know that your house is full of particles that need to be extracted from the air to maintain clean and breathable air. This filter is very effective at trapping health-causing pollutants and properly filters circulating air. The good news is that you can improve your home's air quality quickly, since changing an air filter only takes a few seconds.

An air filter that has been clogged and polluted for a long time can significantly affect the respiratory system. The build-up of particles and contaminants is connected to the filter and acts like a blanket that blocks air flow. It can cause a total breakdown if the system tries too hard to turn around and get through clogged air filters. A dirty, clogged filter recirculates polluted air around the house, reducing overall air quality.

Air filters are usually made of spun fiberglass or pleated paper and are surrounded by a cardboard frame. In addition to health problems, dirty filters and air ducts cause an increase in utility bills due to decreased airflow and unpleasant fumes and odors. This clog causes the entire system to overwork and overwork, making it difficult to direct heat or air where needed.