Why You Should Change Your Air Conditioner Filter Regularly

As you can imagine, your air filter collects all types of dust, spores, hair, dander and other particles that are pumped through the air conditioning system. Better Health & Seasonal Allergy Relief. ENERGY STAR air conditioning experts recommend changing your air filter at least every three months. Dirt and debris from the filter can obstruct airflow, increasing the workload of the cooling system. By replacing the filter regularly, you can reduce wear and tear on your air conditioner while allowing free air circulation to improve indoor comfort.

A clear sign that the AC filter needs to be replaced is when the back of the unit is too hot. If the filter is heavily soiled, you may feel warm air coming out the back of the unit. A clogged filter forces the air conditioner to work harder to keep the house cool. This will lead to more frequent air conditioning repairs and ultimately shorten the life of the unit. Reduce the load by simply changing the AC filter regularly.

The ideal is to change your air filter every three months, however, there are certain factors to consider when determining when to change an old filter. No other factor affects the performance and efficiency of your air conditioning system as much as a dirty or clogged filter. A dirty filter can prevent airflow from your system. When the air filter is clogged with dust, dirt, and grime, the boiler and air conditioner have to work twice as hard to move air around your home. This will increase your energy bills, increase your carbon footprint, and drain your budget.

In general, most air filter manufacturers and HVAC companies recommend changing your air filter every 90 days or 3 months. That may change depending on the location of your home (e.g. e.g. dry and dusty climates), if you have pets and the age of your system and equipment. If you have pets in the house, you should consider changing the filter every 60 days or 2 months, and for households with multiple pets or people with allergies or respiratory conditions, we recommend changing the filter every 20-45 days.

Usually, vacation homes or vacant homes that don't have much use can expect to change filters every 9-12 months. The general consensus is that the more you use your home, the more you need to change the air filter. Now that you have a good filter, there are a combination of factors that affect how often you replace it. Every three weeks is a good rule of thumb if you have multiple pets, live in a very dusty or contaminated area, or have severe allergies. Air filters trap pet hair, dust, and other irritating particles so that the air conditioning system returns fresh, clean air to your home. If the dirty air filter is completely covered with dust and dirt, it is a good idea to change the filter even if it has not reached the end of its recommended life. But what happens if you let that time go by a little? Before we talk about WHEN the air filter should be changed, let's start with the WHY.

Don't let your home deteriorate; keep abreast of home maintenance issues, such as clean and working air filters. The central air conditioner filter is an important tool for reducing allergens in your home and keeping it a little more dust-free. Changing the air filters in your HVAC system is an essential practice that ensures that clean air circulates throughout your home. When you change your air filter regularly, you remove dirt and germs trapped in the air filter and allow the air to be cleaned more thoroughly as it passes. By ensuring that your air filters are in good condition and free of excessive dust and dirt, you can avoid costly repairs to your heating and cooling system. Compared to other DIY home improvement projects, changing air filters is a quick and painless process that can be done in less than an hour.

It's important to note that there are high-efficiency filters that are designed to filter out small particles of bacteria, mold and mildew, but your standard MERV 8-11 filters will simply block out larger particles of dust, dirt & hair. If you want to improve the air quality in your space by eliminating pollen, mold, and other harmful contaminants, you should invest in HEPA filters with a MERV rating of 10 or higher. You will no longer be able to filter the air properly, allowing dust and contaminants to enter the HVAC system. However, many homeowners are unaware of how often air filters need to be replaced, making their system vulnerable to damage. The air cleaner is designed with fibers, usually made of fiberglass, that trap unwanted elements contained in the air of your home. It's definitely not worth spending constantly on replacing and repairing parts of your heating and cooling system, and it makes a lot more sense to spend this money on replacing your air filters from time to time.

Elisa Michocki
Elisa Michocki

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