Did you know dirt is one of the sneakiest culprits responsible for a faltering heating system? Over time, debris and other contaminants drift into its interior components. As they begin to accumulate, they strangle the airflow and punish your system. It’s like trying to swim the length of a pool twice in a single breath. Doable? Yes. But much, much harder. For homeowner tips on selecting and maintaining the right furnace filter—or adding a portable air cleaner—see the EPA’s Guide to Air Cleaners in the Home.

The result of that strain is steadily increasing wear on your furnace components—and a noticeable spike in energy consumption. As your system fights longer to reach set temperatures, you’ll see your utility bills climb and face more frequent repair needs. In the most extreme cases, overly clogged equipment and extended run‐times can even cause the furnace to cook itself. For a deep dive into how real‐world efficiency impacts both performance and operating costs, see Wikipedia’s Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency.

This is why we recommend calling us as soon as you notice any change in efficiency or sign it needs to be repaired.