- November 2, 2023
- 9:00 am
Do you know dust and debris-loaded air conditioner filters can not clean the indoor air efficiently and cause breathing issues?
Poor indoor air quality is linked to many health issues. Research from the National Institute Of Health (NHS) shows their association with conditions such as headache, nausea, coughing, wheezing, nasal congestion, and aggravating asthma, making breathing difficult. Mainly, these are upper respiratory tract problems, which, on prolonged exposure, may complicate and cause serious health problems like lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or cardiovascular diseases.
You can cut off these health risks and make breathing easy by keeping the ducted air conditioner filter clean. Cleaning the air filter is an important task, and ensure your air conditioner is working efficiently and indoor air is clean.
You can call a professional air filter cleaning services provider to do the job for you, or you can do it yourself, too. If you don’t know how to clean the ducted air conditioner filter, we are here to help! Here is a step-by-step guide for your help.
How To Clean Air Conditioner Filters?
Follow each step to get clean air conditioner filters that improve indoor air quality and eliminate the risk of breathing problems!
Step 1: Turn Off The Conditioning Unit
It’s compulsory to turn off the air conditioner unit before you clean its filters. It simply required you to unplug the system from the energy source.
Keeping the air conditioner will affect the system’s efficiency due to airflow issues, lead to inefficient cleaning, cause potential damage to the air conditioner’s components, and pose a safety hazard.
Step 2: Locate The Return Air Grill
The air filter is near the return air grill on your space’s walls, ceiling, or floor. They are the size of a register, so it’s easier to locate them. You may already know their location if you are familiar with your ducted air conditioner.
Step 3: Remove The Dirty Filter
Once you have located the filter, it is time to take it out of its place. Air filters are easily removable. Some people try to clean the dirty filters without removing them. Professionals don’t recommend this practice, and it does not ensure thorough cleaning of the filters and compromises the system’s efficiency.
Step 4: Identify The Type Of Air Filter
One of the most crucial steps while you look for answers to how to clean ducted air conditioner filters, is to identify the type of filter in the system. Let’s dig into some details about the type of filters for better understanding.
There are two main types of air filters
Reusable Filters
As the name says, reusable filters are used over and over again. You can take them out, clean and reinstall them. You can reuse them until they become very thin or have holes. Once physically damaged, you must replace them with new ones.
Disposable Filters
Disposable filters are easy to identify, and you can’t clean or reuse them once dirty. Disposable filets have a sticker on their backside describing how to clean air conditioner filters.
Step 5: Clean The Dirty Filter
There is no need to clean the disposable filters, but you’ll need to clean the reusable ones thoroughly. Firstly, dust off dirt and debris with a duster or cloth. Microfiber cloth is an excellent choice to clean the dirty filter. You can also use a vacuum cleaner to do the job.
Secondly, you can wash the air filter with warm water and mild detergent or soap. Make sure you don’t damage the filter by scrubbing or rinsing hard. Ensure no residue is left behind.
Step 6: Let The Filter Dry
If you have used any solution or water to clean the filter, let it dry completely before placing it back in the air grill. Residue water or chemicals can damage the parts of the ducted air conditioner system and affect its performance.
Step 7: Re-install The Air Filter
Once the air filter is clean and dry, you can reinstall them back to their place. Make sure it is properly placed and secured in its place.
Step 8: Update The Information On The System
You need to inform your ducted air conditioner that a new or clean filter has been placed by resetting the filter icon.
It is recommended to clean air filters every 3 to 6 months, depending on your usage. Cleaning the ducted air conditioner filter isn’t a tedious job. You can do it yourself. However, if you need help, you can contact technicians at Surrey Air to clean the air filters.
Benefits Of Clean Ducted Air Conditioner Filter
The benefits of a clean, ducted air conditioner filter are not limited to resolving breathing problems and reducing the risk of allergies. Let’s know some more benefits you can experience with a clean ducted air conditioner filter.
Less Dust And Odors Indoors:
Filters remove dust and odors from closed spaces like homes or offices and keep the air clean and fresh.
Extended Life Span Of Ducted Air Conditioner:
Dirt can cause wear and tear in the air conditioner’s components, increasing the chances of breakdowns. Air filters impact the life span of ducted air conditioners by keeping their ducts free of dust or debris and keeping them running efficiently. An air conditioner with regularly cleaned filters works for more years without unnecessary repairs.
Improved Air Quality:
There is a significant improvement in the air quality when you keep the filters clean. Clean filters work efficiently and prevent dust and allergens from passing through them.
Less Energy Consumption:
A ducted air conditioner with a dirty filter will consume more energy to filter air, which leads to higher energy bills. The air conditioner works smoothly and efficiently with clean filters and doesn’t consume more energy.
Better Thermal Control:
With clean air filters, the ducted air conditioner maintains the desired temperature efficiently and for longer durations, increasing the overall thermal control in your space.
Conclusion
Breathing problems are commonly associated with ducted air conditioners. You can eliminate the risk and improve the indoor air quality by keeping air filters clean. You can clean the air filter by following simple steps, including switching off the air conditioner, locating the return air grill, removing the air filter, and identifying if the air filter is disposable or reusable. Simply dispose of the disposable filter and replace it with a new one if your system has a disposable filter. You can clean or wash reusable filters until they become thin or physically damaged.
Once the air filter is clean and dry, you can reinstall it securely within the return air grill and update the system information to enjoy easy breathing indoors with efficient thermal control.
