You do not want trouble with your air conditioner in the summer
Today’s post is by Gayl Southard, Administrative Consultant for SafeSourcing.
In today’s blog, Gayl discusses the economics of air conditioner filters.
Recently one of our air conditioners began making loud noises each time it cycled on and off. It was so loud in fact, that it would wake me up. In addition to the loud noise, it wasn’t cooling the house. Living in a hot climate such as Arizona, you do not want trouble with your air conditioner in the summer. I made a call to my service company on Saturday and explained the problem. Luckily, I was able to line up a repair person to be at my home on Monday morning. After some investigation, the repairman said my unit was frozen. In order to remedy the situation, he had to turn the heat on in the house to melt the ice in the system. Initially the repair person said he thought I had dirty AC filters, but I knew that the filters were clean and are changed out regularly. It turned out the air conditioner was working overtime with the heavy-duty, pleated filters I have been using and strained to pull the air to cool the house. I was advised to use a fiberglass filter that needs to be changed out every 30 days. Although I change my air conditioner filters on a regular basis, I learned about the damage a dirty filter can have on your system.
- A dirty filter in your HVAC system will raise energy bills. A dirty filter restricts the air flow into your HVAC system air handler, causing it to work harder to cool or heat your home.
- A dirty clogged filter can restrict HVAC airflow and potentially cause problems with the system. They also cease to filter allergens and other particulates out of your air.
- Dirty filters can make your HVAC system fail completely. Repairing a HVAC system can end up costing you a pretty penny.
The air in your home is up to five times more polluted than the outside air and in businesses it can be even worse. Impurities in the air such as pet dander, mold, bacteria, dust and dirt, and pollen build up in your air conditioner and ventilation system which can cause allergies, asthma triggers, and other respiratory problems. Thus, it is very important to keep up with changing air conditioner filters regularly.
An AC filter uses special, densely woven, electrostatically charged material to trap pollutants in the air before they pass into your air conditioner or HVAC unit. Over time as the AC air filter gathers more pollutants, it becomes clogged, making it more difficult for the air conditioner to pull air through it. If you live in an environment where you are doing remodeling, if its allergy season, or if you have pets, you should consider changing the filter more often.
SafeSourcing has a wealth of knowledge on sourcing HVAC units, filters, and maintenance agreements. Please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Service representative or ask about our Risk Free trial program. We have an entire team ready to assist you today.
