Air conditioning unit filters are one of the most crucial components of a heating and cooling system. Despite their humble appearance, often resembling a piece of cardboard or rigid cloth, they play a vital role in the system. By regulating the amount of dirt, pollen, and other particles that enter your home through the ventilation ducts, an air filter keeps out dust while allowing clean air to circulate within your indoor environment. Read on to learn more about how to enhance the performance of your smart air conditioning system.
What Are Air Conditioning Air Filters?
An air filter is a device used to separate particles from the air. Like all other filters, forced air system filters have a porous structure that prevents large harmful particles from passing through. In an air conditioning system, these filters prevent harmful pollutants and allergens from entering your indoor environment. Therefore, they have a significant impact on your health and well-being.
Air conditioning filters are primarily made from fine strands of fiberglass, which are then spun onto a frame or made of fine paper or material wrapped onto a cardboard frame. Particles that an air conditioning system filter can protect you against include:
- Pollen
- Mold
- Contaminants present in the outdoor air
- Dust
- Pet fur
- Dead skin or dander
The cleanliness of air conditioner air filters is crucial for individuals who are sensitive to air quality and have allergies or conditions such as asthma. In general, air filters can be beneficial for everyone by improving your indoor air quality, provided you ensure your air filter is not dirty!
The Role of Air Filters
The air conditioning filter is a component of the central air conditioning system. It is typically made of paper and can come in various sizes and shapes depending on the application. The primary purpose of this filter is to trap gases like smoke, dust, and bacteria that cause unpleasant odors in indoor environments. These filters are usually positioned on the return air side of the air conditioning system. They capture the impurities in the area where they enter the air circulation, leading them to release back into your indoor environment, while clean fresh air is circulated indoors.
Changing the Filters Depending on the Situation
If you want to ensure that your system works efficiently and provides clean air, you should change the filters of your air conditioning unit regularly. When a filter becomes dirty, air can no longer flow through it without additional pressure. This makes your forced air system less efficient.
If you have dirty filters, you might be facing high energy bills and a worn-out cooling system. The most effective way to optimize your air conditioner’s performance is to consistently change out your filters. Although the frequency of replacements depends largely on how much you use your air conditioning unit, you should ideally change your filters every few months. If you have pets or live in an area with a lot of dust, you should change them more frequently.
There’s a simple way to determine how often you should change your filters. Check your filter once a month for an extended period. If your filter is still clean after the first month, you don’t need to replace it. However, if it’s dirty, change it and make it a habit to do so regularly.
Consequences of a Dirty AC Filter
If you neglect to change your filters, your air conditioning system will experience more than just inefficiency. One of the most common reasons people require air conditioner repairs is due to dirty filters. You might need professional central air conditioning service because you haven’t changed out your filters.
This is because a clogged filter takes a toll on your air conditioning system. For the air to flow through your system, the fans have to work harder and longer than necessary. It’s inevitable that your blower or another component of your air conditioning system will stop functioning properly.
Assuming your filter is sufficiently dirty, your evaporator’s coils will freeze solid. Whether your coils defrost or not, they will undergo a cycle of freezing and thawing. If you don’t replace the filters, your system can fail.
Importance of Air Conditioning System Filter
An air conditioning system filter is crucial for your air conditioning system. It is used to capture airborne particles, pollen, and other solid contaminants that may be causing allergy symptoms and other illnesses in your home or office. You need clean air coming from your replacement parts to be pure and free from bacteria, dust, and other pollutants. An air conditioning filter can also be used for removing harmful substances such as smoke, pollen, or dust.
In essence, the filter absorbs impurities in the air. When the filter gets dirty, the impurities start to accumulate inside the filter and weaken it to the point where it stops filtering effectively, leading to poor air quality for occupants. A new filter needs to be installed or if you live in an area where environmental regulations are in place, an air conditioning filter needs to be replaced.
Importance of Improving Air Conditioning Air Filter Performance
An air filter at the heart of your air conditioning system is a crucial component in the overall performance of your furnace, air conditioner, and ductwork. Not only does an air filter reduce the number of dust particles, pollen, and other airborne particles that enter your home, but it also removes volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that may be harmful to humans and pets. If you have an older home or suffer from allergies, maintaining good maintenance practices can
help you keep up with your heating and cooling system. Most people opt to purchase an energy-efficient unit that will save them money on their monthly utility bills but don’t forget to change your filter regularly.
When you need your air conditioner tuned up, you may hear the word ‘filter.’ However, this is not without reason. An air filter plays a vital role in keeping your indoor environment clean and healthy. There are two crucial aspects of your heating and cooling system you should be aware of: your indoor air quality and the air filter. While these two elements don’t always go hand-in-hand, they can influence each other. The air filter plays a critical role in safeguarding the air coming out of your heating and cooling system as well as maintaining healthy indoor air quality.
How to Improve Your Air Conditioning Unit Performance?
Follow these steps to enhance your cooling performance:
- Smart Air Conditioner Controller: Use a smart AC controller to easily adjust the temperature of your air conditioning system.
- Indoor Air Quality Sensor: Indoor air pollution is twice as dangerous as outdoor air. Therefore, an indoor air quality sensor helps determine the quality of your air, allowing you to live in cleaner air.
- Cleaning the Filter: Dust and dirt on the air filter can impair the efficiency of your air conditioning unit. Therefore, you should perform a proper cleaning of the air filter. This will also allow you to breathe in clean air.
- Get it Repaired Early: If you feel there is something wrong with your air conditioning and it is showing some early signs of not functioning properly, you should call your local experts for immediate repairs. This will save your air conditioning from more extensive damage. If you live in Lahore, Pakistan, you can also call A-Z Air Movement, the best heating and cooling company that provides top-notch services.
How Often Should You Change Your Filter?
Air filters are crucial for your air conditioner to function as it should. However, not all filters are created equal—some can become clogged, reducing the efficiency of your AC. As a result, you should replace your filter every three months, while some even more frequently. If you have pets and/or allergies, you should change your filter at least every four weeks. A professional air conditioner technician will always inspect at least annually.
Why It’s Important to Change Your Air Conditioner Filter
You probably take your air conditioner for granted. After all, it keeps you cool and comfortable during the hot summer months. But did you know that an air conditioner’s job is to work harder than any other appliance in your home? It has to work hard because of something called “system power recovery,” which means its job isn’t just to keep itself cool—it has to capture the wasted energy that would normally be lost as heat. This can be something as simple as a clogged air filter that can reduce your air conditioner’s efficiency, not to mention increase the strain on your cooling system. That’s why it’s crucial to change your air filter every three months.
What Are Air Conditioner Filter Sizes?
When purchasing a new air filter for an air conditioner, you need to be cautious when selecting the right one for your air conditioner. Different models are recommended for different sizes, and no one size fits all. Air conditioner filter sizes are typically expressed as length x width, but the depth of an air conditioner filter should also be taken into consideration. Standard depths range from 1 to 6 inches.
Some common sizes for AC filters are:
- 10 x 20
- 14 x 20
- 16 x 24
- 18 x 30
- 12 x 12
- 14 x 24
- 16 x 25
- 20 x 20
- 12 x 20
There are many more sizes available. You can also have a customized air conditioner filter made. To find out the size of your AC filter, check the printed details on your old air conditioner filter or consult your air conditioning system’s owner’s manual.
Now, you are well acquainted with air filters, their types, applications, and ways to keep them in top shape!
The importance of a clean environment cannot be expressed in words, as it greatly affects your health and productivity. Look for the most suitable air conditioning filters for your application and enjoy the benefits of clean air!
Follow These Tips for Optimal Performance
In summary, there are a few simple things you can do to improve your air conditioner through your air filters:
- Adjust the filters in your forced air system regularly.
- Use a filter with appropriate efficiency.
- Look for signs of a dirty filter.
- Use a pleated filter.
- Put reminders in place to change your filters.
Perhaps the most crucial step you can take is to consult an air conditioning professional about your filters. If you don’t know how to change your filters or need advice on how to select a filter, a reputable technician will be happy to assist. Here at Bayside Heating and Air Conditioning, we offer the support that will get your air conditioning system up and running. Call today to learn about your air conditioning ductwork in Lahore.
Changing & Cleaning Air Filters – DIY Air Filter Maintenance Tips
Buying a new air conditioner filter is not the only essential aspect. You need to keep track of the cleaning cycle and do it periodically to achieve optimal cooling and a clean environment.
Dirty filters are a major reason air conditioning systems don’t heat or cool properly. First, take a look at your air conditioner’s filters and have them cleaned or replaced.
A blocked air conditioning filter can put strain on your air conditioner’s fans and cause them to constantly run on high.
A dirty AC filter, now completely clogged, can no longer trap debris and deposits and becomes a working source of contaminants inside the AC system (especially central/ducted systems). As previously studied, dirty AC filters cause the AC system to operate at a higher capacity. This can result in additional power consumption and higher energy bills.
Therefore, it is important to clean the air conditioning filters regularly. Generally, a visual inspection is sufficient for this purpose. You can hold the filter up against a light source, and if you can see through it, everything is fine. Either way, replacing or cleaning is the order of the day.
We are often asked how to change the filter of an air conditioning unit. That’s an easy one to answer. Air conditioning filters for ducted units are inserted into the external air units or furnaces and can be easily removed by pulling them out of their brackets. For ductless units, the filters are located in the indoor unit, and again, you can remove them with a gentle pull.
How to Clean Air Conditioner Filter?
Wondering how to clean the filters of an air conditioner? Cleaning is usually as easy as a gentle swipe over the filter with an air hose or a once-over with a vacuum cleaner. In essence, you can rinse washable air conditioner filters under running water but make sure they dry completely before you re-insert them.
Conclusion
If your air filtration system is clogged, you may notice a decrease in the temperature in your home. This decrease can also lower your energy bills! But don’t worry—
there are plenty of ways to keep your system running well and save money. One such way is to contact A-Z Air Movement which provides heating and cooling AC repair service in Lahore and has experts to provide the best service for your AC. We offer Ductwork installation in Lahore, cleaning, and repair service in Lahore. They will not only help you clean the filters but also assist you with other necessary heating and cooling services.