Although relatively cheap, your air conditioning filter can be the biggest factor in determining the efficiency of your air conditioning unit, your unit’s longevity and your health as well.  Let’s face it, Santa Clarita summers can be taxing both on your body and your HVAC unit, but ensuring that an air conditioning filter change is part of your routine is one of the most important factors in ensuring the health of you and your air conditioner.  Here are some simple central AC filter tips that you can use to keep you and your HVAC system running smoothly for many summers to come. Although your air conditioning filter can remove allergens from the air and increase your home’s air quality, many consumers don’t know that the primary purpose of your filter is not for you – it’s for your HVAC system itself.  A clogged AC filter can reduce air flow significantly, increasing the amount of time your system has to run and putting significant stress on your air conditioner’s internal components.  

The AC filter’s primary role is to keep dust and other contaminants from collecting on the evaporator coil and other components which decreases the rate at which heat is exchanged.  Additionally, this dirt and debris can collect on the various moving parts of your blower motor and fan, which also decreases their effectiveness.  In fact, a dirty evaporator coil can increase your utility costs by 5-40%. Replacing your air conditioning filter routinely will help keep your system running smoothly and prevent the buildup of mold, dust and other allergens which could require you to clean your air conditioning ducts – an unnecessary expense.  For more on this, take a look at: Should I Have My Air Ducts Cleaned? and How Do You Prevent Mold? One of the many benefits of changing your air conditioning filter is the effect that this has on your health.  Whether you have a sturdy immune system or suffer from severe allergies or asthma, ensuring that your air is scrubbed with each pass through your air conditioner is essential to good respiratory health.  

Routine AC air filter replacement is essential to decreasing the amount of organic material that accumulates in your systems ducting which can fuel mold growth.  Mold in your air conditioning system can cause several undesirable symptoms, including chronic cough, wheezing and the increased likelihood of asthma attacks.  ac unit filter resetFor more information on mold and other respiratory issues, take a look at the CDC: CDC and Respiratory Health.small air conditioner heater combo window unit If you or a member of your family suffers from severe allergies or asthma, I’d recommend this article:small ac unit wattage The moral of the story, if you remember nothing else from this post, is to remember to replace your air conditioning filter on a regular basis.  

Means changing your air conditioning filter every three months at a minimum, but possibly more often if you live in a dusty or arid area.  ASM recommends that you check your filter on a monthly basis and if the entire filter is dark grey and has a “saturated” look, then it’s time to change it (see photo – a used photo is on the right, the new filter is on the left). I can’t emphasis this enough – use good air conditioning filters.  The cheap type that you could stick your finger through with little or no effort and can see through as you hold it up to the light are no good (the kind you most often find in your apartment’s AC filter).  Buy yourself some high-quality baffled filters, and if any members of your family have asthma or allergy problems then invest in the better Honeywell HEPA filters and a UV purifier as well. If you take my advice and are looking for a high-quality filter for your next air conditioning filter change, then I’d take a look at products from Honeywell and 3M.  

They run about $15 a piece but are cheaper if you buy them in bulk.  If someone in your family suffers from asthma, don’t buy a filter with a micro particle rating of less than 1600 as this has been shown to reduce asthma symptoms and the likelihood of an asthma attack.  Believe me, my wife suffers from asthma and it’s well worth it.  Take a look at some of these products: 3M – A High-End Air Conditioning Filter Change. At All Systems Mechanical HVAC, we care about the well-being of you and your family.  Ensuring that you schedule a regular air conditioning filter change is one of the most important factors in ensuring that you and your family stay healthy.  We should also re-emphasize how important a regular AC air filter replacement is to keeping your air conditioner functioning properly for it’s maxim lifespan.  For more information on this and other air conditioning related topics, visit us at our ASM Air Conditioning Blog.  If you live in Santa Clarita or the Southern California region, give us a call and we’d be happy to answer any questions you might have.

Can you change or clean the filter in an air conditioner window unit? Users can clean or replace the filter in a window air conditioning unit. Some units have reusable filters, which users wash and put back into the air conditioner. Other filters cannot be reused and need to be replaced. How do you insert replacement air filters on your central heating air vents? Cleaning or replacing an old, dirty filter can cut energy use of the air conditioner by 5 to 15 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. The owner should wash or replace the air filter once every month during the cooling season to keep dust out of the evaporator coils. More frequent cleaning is necessary if the unit gets used excessively, the area is dusty, or the home includes pets. What are some tips for HVAC preventative maintenance? Preventative maintenance tips for your heating, vacuum and air conditioning system include keeping the area surrounding the outside unit clean and free of ...