Why Changing Your Air Filter is So Important

If there’s one key element of any HVAC system, it’s the air filter. Your air filter sits at the very heart of your air conditioning system, and having a poor quality, damaged, dirty or old air filter will have dire consequences upon your system’s effectiveness, and could cause your system to fail completely.

You will usually find your air filter located in the return air duct compartment of your HVAC system. There are two kinds of air filter – washable and disposable. If you have the former then you will need to clean your filter every three months at the bare minimum. If you have the latter, then you will have to throw away the old filter and replace it with a new one, again, every three months.

Changing Your Air Filter Will Allow Your System to Run More Efficiently

If you do not replace your filter, or you leave your filter for too long without cleaning it, then you will simply be diminishing the quality of the air that your filter supplies. The purpose of your filter is to remove contaminates from the air, such as dust, pollen, mold spores and smoke. Over time your filter will become clogged with these items, and will need cleaning.

If your filter is not cleaned or changed, then the filter will simply allow more contaminates – and in particular dust – to continuously cycle through your system. You will begin to notice that surfaces that you are accustomed to remaining clean start to become coated with a thin layer of dust.

If You Don’t Change Your Air Filter You Can Expect Higher Energy Bills

A blocked or clogged filter can also cause your air filtration system to work harder. Your air conditioning system cycles several times a day in order to maintain air quality, and the harder it has to work, the more often it is required to cycle. As a result of this you will find that your energy bills are higher, as more energy is required for your system to work as it should.

Having a dirty air filter can also cause your system to fail altogether. If cold air builds up inside of your system, then ice can form internally, leading your unit to freeze up. Additionally, if your system is working harder than it should because of a blocked filter, then your motor may overheat and eventually fail.

For more information about air filters, or to learn more about the services that we can provide you, please contact us here at Ideal Conditions at 904-379-8762. You can also contact us using the online contact form that’s available on our website.