Maintaining your air conditioning unit is crucial for ensuring its wellbeing and extending its lifespan.
While air conditioner filters can make our life easier in a huge number of ways, they also play an important role in the functioning and efficiency of your air conditioning unit.
Being proactive with maintenance involves keeping a close eye on your system and contacting an air con repair specialist if you notice anything isn’t quite right.
We’ll cover the importance of cleaning and replacing the filters and what filter is best for your needs.
Why Are Air Conditioner Filters So Important?
Keeping your filters clean and replacing them when they are damaged is very important for keeping your unit in top condition.
Cleaning and replacing your filters is an important part of the general maintenance process.
This will help ensure your unit is running at optimum performance levels, increasing efficiency and reliability, ultimately leading to a reduction in repair costs and an increase in the life expectancy of your system.
Filters are an important component of your AC system. They are usually made of a fine material like pleated paper or cloth stretched across a sturdy frame.
Their function is to filter the air that passes in and out of your HVAC system. They collect small particles of contaminants that may affect the health and wellbeing of you, your family or your employees, including dust, dirt, pollen, mould, lint and other fibres, bacteria, hair or animal fur, and particles of wood, metal or plastics.
Why Is Cleaning and Replacing Air Conditioner Filters So Important?
So why is cleaning and replacing your filter so important? Well, there are a number of reasons.
First of all, clogged air conditioner filters are one of the common causes of major malfunctions in air-con systems. A dirty filter will also allow less air to pass through, causing fans to work harder, increasing energy consumption and slowly damaging your system.
Clogged filters can also lead to a buildup of contaminants in your ducts (if you have a ducted system).
How Often Does Your Air Conditioner Filter Need Cleaning and Replacing?
Depending on the environment of your AC system, your air conditioner filters will need to be inspected every other month and cleaned if you notice they have become quite dirty.
It will be quite easy to assess if your filter is too dirty. If your filter looks excessively dirty or damaged in some way, it may need to be replaced.
Keep an eye out for any holes, wrinkles or tears – these are telltale signs that your filter needs replacing.
How To Maintain Your Air Conditioner Filters?
It is important to use fresh air conditioner filters for your aircon to run efficiently and without unnecessary exertion. But how do you check if your filters in good shape?
Buy the right HVAC filter
When you go shopping for air conditioner filters, you will realise there are a variety of shapes and sizes of filters.
Check your AC unit manual to figure out which shape and size you need to buy. Locate the manual and make a note of the make and model number. If the manual is missing, the make and model should be visible on the ac unit.
It is important to remember that purchasing a filter which is too small or large can result in gaps that allow dust and debris to pass through, which can potentially burn out your HVAC system.
Checking your air conditoner filters
If you want to check whether your air conditioner filters needs replacing, follow the subsequent instructions:
- Make sure your unit is turned off.
- Lift the lid of your air conditioner.
- Check to see if your filter is damaged or needs reconditioning. You may notice a build-up of dust and debris.
- Clean your filters. If it is the first time removing the filter from your unit, follow the manual instructions. If the damage isn’t too bad, use a vacuum for a thorough clean. If it appears to be very clogged, scrub it under warm water and ensure it is completely dry before placing it back.
- If the damage is too much for cleaning, replace your filter. Do this by carefully removing the access panels, removing the filter, and replacing it with a new one. Make sure the arrow on the outside of the filter is pointing in the same direction as the airflow.
How much maintenance does your HVAC filter need?
Regular cleaning of your AC Unit and its filters is an important step for prolonging the life of your air conditioner. It is a good rule of thumb to change your HVAC filters every 45 to 60 days.
However, if you suffer from allergies or have pets, you may need to change more frequently, especially during the summer months.
Finding the Right Replacement
So how do you know what the right replacement filter is?
There are different filters that have different efficiency ratings called MERV ratings – this stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. In general, the cheaper the filter, the lower the MERV rating. These range from 1-16.
Filters with a MERV rating of 1-4 are the lowest quality. They provide basic filtration and are the cheapest option. They may be suitable for low-intensity environments.
Filters with a MERV rating of 5-8 are the next step up, providing good filtration levels at a relatively low cost. They are suitable for smaller systems, such as those in homes.
Filters with a MERV rating of 9-13 are higher quality and are more expensive. They can capture very small particles.
Filters with a MERV rating of 14-16 are the best you can buy. They can capture minuscule particles as small as 0.3 microns.
Contact Us Today
If you are curious about the most suitable filter for you, get in touch with your AC installer or specialist. They will be able to advise you on the best option.
If you are having issues with your AC system or would like to know more about replacing filters, get in touch with HunterCON today.
We pride ourselves on providing fast and efficient service of the highest quality. We are based in the Inner West. However, our operations span the greater metro area, including the Eastern Suburbs, Lower North Shore, and South West.
We always respond quickly and aim to be on-site as soon as possible.