Does Changing the AC Filter Really Matter?
To answer the question posed in the title of this blog as quickly as possible: yes, yes it really does. You see, the air filter in your air conditioner plays a vital role, and a dirty filter is not going to fulfill that role successfully. Not only that, but a dirty filter can also impede the operation of your system in a few different ways. Of course, we’re not happy to just give you the short answer, especially not with such an important question at stake.
You’ve no doubt seen us talk about the fact that changing your air filter regularly is incredibly important here on this blog. While routine air conditioning maintenance is, of course, extremely beneficial, the fact is that waiting around to have your air filter changed once a year just is not going to cut it. Typically, the air filter in your air conditioner in Green Valley, AZ is going to have to be changed once every 1-3 months.
Wasted Energy, Increased Wear and Tear, and Squandered Comfort
That is a pretty gloomy headline right there, isn’t it? Unfortunately, these issues will be the reality of your situation if you fail to keep a fresh air filter in your air conditioner. If that is not enough to convince you that doing so is incredibly important, then let us expand upon the issues further.
- Energy inefficiency. This is one of the most obvious of the problems that you’ll encounter with a dirty air filter in your air conditioning system. If your system is tasked with forcing air through a clogged air filter, it is going to have to work harder in order to cool your home effectively. When that happens, it only stands to reason that you will see the efficiency with which your system works falter.
- Increased wear and tear. One issue common with very dirty filters is short cycling. Basically, the system will overheat as it struggles to cool your home. When that happens, it will shut down and start back up more frequently and rapidly than it should have to. Not only does this operation lead to serious issues with energy inefficiency, but it also puts a lot of strain on your air conditioning system that makes further complications more likely.
- Reduced overall comfort. When your system is starting and stopping, struggling to force cool air throughout the house, or contending with ice built up on the evaporator coil due to reduced airflow, it is not going to be able to cool your home as effectively as it otherwise would. That means that you will, in all likelihood, be paying higher cooling costs for a weaker cooling performance. You deserve better than that, and simply changing your air filter will help you to get it.
No, a dirty air filter is not going to cause your air conditioner to break down entirely all of a sudden. The long term effects are very serious, though. Trust the pros here at Goettl Air Conditioning, and keep a fresh filter in your system.
G-O-E-T-T-L it’ll keep you cool but it’s hard to spell.
