Air conditioner filters hold impeccable importance in the air conditioner system. They are essential for the optimum performance of cooling systems and for maintaining indoor air environments.
As an air conditioner owner or someone who wants to stay comfortable throughout the boiling summer, one should take care of the air conditioner filters as they keep their hydration levels!
Why and when to change air conditioner filters often remains a talk among air conditioner users. Today, we will provide insightful answers to all your questions about changing the air conditioner filters.
Let’s start with a quick review of the functions of filters in an air conditioner to highlight their importance.
- Particle Filtration: Captures dust, pollen, mold spores, pet dander, and other airborne particles and prevents their circulation in the indoor air.
- Improved Airflow: Increase system efficiency by improving airflow which is essential for better heating and cooling.
- Protect The Air Conditioner’s Internal Components: Filters do not let dust and debris enter the AC’s internal components, thus protecting them from wear and tear.
- Extend the air conditioner’s lifespan: Proper airflow, no dust and debris inside the AC, and less strain on the AC reduce damages and extend the AC’s life span.
- Energy Efficiency: With clean filters the AC units work more efficiently, lowering the energy cost.
- Warranty Compliance: Cleaning and replacing the filters as directed by the manufacturer ensures compliance.
If you can’t manage cleaning and changing your air conditioner filters, don’t worry. Surrey Air is here for your help. Contact us to get the services.
Frequency To Change Air Conditioner Filter
Air conditioner owners must at least change the air filters once a season to ensure the smooth working of their air conditioners. However, guidelines suggest changing air conditioner filters every 3 months.
The frequency of changing air conditioner filters also depends on the climatic requirements of the area and some other factors. The guidelines also clearly state surface cleaning, cleaning the pre-filters, and replacing the filters.
Cleaning the air filters also brings significant benefits to the performance of air conditioning systems and indoor air quality. Samsung presents a detailed guideline on how often should the air filter be cleaned.
Why To Change Air Conditioner Filters?
Well, you all know that changing air conditioner filters is important. It brings many benefits and keeping them dirty will affect the system and health.
Let us state some of the most promising benefits the most simple maintenance step will bring.
Improve Air Quality
Clean filters improve indoor air quality by clearing out dust, debris, animal fur and microorganisms. Filters don’t let these particles circulate throughout indoor spaces, keeping the spaces clean and fresh.
Increases AC Lifespan
Clean filters keep the air conditioning system stress-free and save internal components from daily wear and tear and mechanical and electrical breakdowns. The overall smooth operations result in increasing AC lifespan.
Ensures Better AC Performance
When filters are clean, they ensure optimal airflow in the indoor spaces, distributing conditioner air uniformly while reducing energy consumption. Filters also prevent breakdowns due to overheating and damage.
Increase AC Energy Efficiency
Clean filters allow the AC units to perform efficiently, without causing strain that burdens AC, resulting in lower energy consumption and reduced energy bills.
Protection From Seasonal Allergies
AC filters capture the spores, molds and other air-borne allergens that cause seasonal allergies and save occupants from developing allergic reactions.
Prevents Mold And Bacterial Growth
AC filters trap mold and bacteria and control indoor humidity levels to prevent their growth.
Lower Repair Frequency
With filters in perfect shape, they will save your air conditioning system from electrical and mechanical damage, thus lowering the repair frequency. Clean filters allow you to enjoy uninterrupted air conditioning without worrying about breakdowns.
Factors Influencing Filter Replacement Frequency
Many factors alter the rate at which filters will grab more or less dust and debris. Let’s see how these common factors affect the filter replacement frequency.
Type Of Filter In AC
Some filters will require more frequent replacement than others because of their building material, shape, size and thickness.
Type of filter | Replacement frequency |
Fibreglass filters | 30 days. |
Pleated filters | 60-90 days. |
HEPA filters | 6-12 months. |
Electrostatic filters | Washable: clean every 30 days. Disposable: replace every 3 months. |
Activated carbon filters | Every 3 months. |
UV light filters | Replace bulbs every 12 months. |
Washable filters | Clean after every 30 days. |
Thick filters require less frequent replacement than thin filters.
Residential VS Commercial AC System
The filter replacement frequency of residential or commercial AC systems varies with the different living conditions of residential and commercial spaces. The living conditions of residential settings include the presence of pets, the number of occupants, and allergic concerns.
In commercial settings business types that is, restaurants, industries or shops is the major factors affecting AC filter replacement frequency. The more the foot traffic the more is the need to replace filters.
The location of the property and usage also affect the filter’s lifespan.
Occupancy
The more the occupancy of a space, the more the chances of pollutants. If the number of occupants inside the home or office is higher there will be more frequent need to replace the filters.
The traffic around the building also affects the rate of change in air conditioner filters.
Property Size
The property size influences how much air the filters will filter. When more air passes through the AC filters, they filter more dust and debris and get clogged more frequently.
Air Quality
Smoke, dust and pollution affect the air quality. If the air quality of the area surrounding the home or office is poor, you’ll have to increase the frequency to change air filters to maintain indoor air quality.
Humidity Levels
Humidity levels have a significant impact on how quickly or slowly filters get clogged due to accumulating dust, airborne particles and mold growth. The higher humidity levels accelerate filter clogging, requiring more frequent replacement of air filters.
Air Conditioner Usage
More air conditioner usage means more air will flow through the air filters and vice versa. The filters will clog more and require more frequent changes to maintain air and maintain the AC performance.
Presence Of Pets
The presence of pets indoors influences the filter’s conditions. Animals and birds shed fur and feathers that circulate in the indoor air and get trapped in the filters. With pets, you will be required to change air conditioner filters more frequently.
Environmental Conditions
Environmental conditions like weather conditions, humidity level, dust, rainfall and temperature profoundly influence the air condition filters.
Click here if you want to know why it is important to check your air conditioner filters before summer.
Age Of Air Conditioning System
Filters of old air conditioners clog faster than new models. It happens because old air conditioners struggle to maintain airflow and collect more dust and debris.
Old air conditioners also struggle to maintain humidity levels, which also contribute to further clogging the filter.
As the system ages, the blower motor becomes weaker and struggles to pull the air through clogged filters furthering the strain on the air conditioner, making the filter replacement frequent and necessary.
When To Change Air Conditioner Filters?
You must change the filters according to their type and evaluate factors that impact the speed of clogging. Besides these established guidelines, the air conditioner filters also get clogged due to various other reasons. The air conditioner shows various signs and symptoms which indicate that filters require an early replacement.
- Visible dust, dirt and debris build up on the air filters.
- Dust accumulation in indoor spaces.
- AC struggles to cool the air.
- Reduced airflow from vents.
- Increased energy bills.
- Worsening allergies and respiratory issues
Contact your experienced air conditioning experts at Surrey Air to change the air conditioners at your home today!
Final Verdict:
Air filters are one of the most important components in the AC system. They must be kept clean to get high efficiency from the AC units and maintain a healthier indoor environment.
You must change the air conditioner filters on the manufacturer’s recommended duration according to the filter type. Many other factors like the thickness of the filters, environmental conditions, high humidity levels, size and location of the property, and life of the AC unit impact the air filters and require more frequent replacements.
Other signs that indicate clogged filters include visible dust and debris on the filters, dirt accumulation in indoor spaces and inconsistent temperature control.
