08/20/2026
A clogged air filter forces the entire system to work harder to push the same amount of air through the house. Restricted airflow means longer run times, higher energy use, and accelerated wear on the compressor and blower motor.
Check the filter monthly during peak cooling season. Replace it as needed, some newer systems will actually shut themselves down entirely if the filter gets too clogged for air to pass through, which then requires a service call just to reset it.
"It's maybe the cheapest maintenance task that exists for this system, and it's the one people skip the longest. A ten dollar filter versus a service call and months of inflated bills."