A clean, well-functioning filter helps to avoid additional stress on your AC system. This allows your AC system to stay in good working order for longer while also helping you be more energy efficient overall. A clean filter also helps verify that your AC system is ready to keep your home comfortable during the warm summer months. HVAC professionals like us here at Mr. Furnace can attest that a good filter is one key to avoiding AC replacement. Common signs that it may be time to change your AC filter include:
Allergies Acting Up
A malfunctioning AC unit can be a burden if you're among the 25% of American adults the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports as suffering from seasonal allergies. Your AC unit helps to circulate air throughout your home. Along with that air comes allergens and contaminants such as pollen, animal dander, and dust mites. Colder, dryer air might also cause allergy-like symptoms such as skin irritation and congestion.
An AC unit's filter serves as a barrier to these allergens. Contaminated air hits the filter, and clean, pure air comes out the other side. A clogged, saturated filter cannot continue to absorb these contaminants, meaning they remain in the air coming out of your vents.
Increased Energy Costs
The energy input into your AC system pushes recirculated air through the filter into the evaporator, where it is then cooled. A clogged filter obstructs airflow onto the evaporator's cooling coils. The greater the obstruction, the more energy is required to push the air through the filter.
The end result of all of this is higher energy bills. Routinely changing your AC filter is a cost-effective way to keep energy expenses low. A higher power bill during one of the hotter months of the year could be an anomaly; seeing unexpectedly high bills for consecutive months could be a sign your AC filter is clogged. Increased energy costs during the summer are not uncommon. A review of your energy expense statements might show whether or not you're paying more than you did in the past.
Dust Build-up Around Vents
An AC filter can only hold so much particulate matter. New contaminants pulled into the filter may knock previously absorbed particulates back into the air, which is then circulated throughout the system. Many of these particulates settle in and accumulate right outside the vents through which cool air flows.
One way to know whether the dust settling outside of your vents is due to a clogged AC filter is to conduct the "white sheet test." You do this by hanging a clean white sheet a few feet away from an AC vent for several minutes. If the sheet turns gray, it's likely due to a contaminated filter. A professional HVAC technician will also be able to quickly verify if you have contaminated air filters and provide replacements.
Odd Smells Around the House
Another potential sign that your AC filter may need to be replaced is if you notice strange smells and odors inside your home. These will smell musty or burn-like in nature. The cause of this is the heat generated by the AC system's operation. The heat bakes the increased dust flowing through the system, giving off an unpleasant odor.
Mold can also cause odors when dust builds in your AC filter. The air coming into the filter is warm and moist, creating the perfect environment for mold to grow. Removing mold may require both changing your filter and thoroughly cleaning your outdoor AC unit with an environmentally approved solution.
Not Knowing When You Last Changed the Filter
A single AC filter is not meant to support a system's entire life cycle. Having a home AC unit requires routine filter checks and replacements. A check at the start of the year's warmer months is beneficial, and many HVAC experts recommend changing your AC filter every few months during peak usage seasons.
Your owner's manual provides the exact manufacturer-recommended timelines for conducting AC filter checks. Following these recommendations helps to avoid the unnecessary expense of premature AC replacement. Filter replacement is also typically included in a regular AC tune-up service. The team at Mr. Furnace provides thorough tune-ups for your air conditioning unit. During our tune-up, we take into account the age of your unit and how much dust accumulation you get on average when determining how often your system needs maintenance.
Avoid Early AC Replacement
Staying on top of your AC system's maintenance and optimizing its operational life is relatively straightforward. There may be times when your unit needs to be examined by expert eyes. The professionals here at Mr. Furnace can help eliminate any guesswork from the AC maintenance process, as well as perform AC replacement when it's needed. Contact us today to learn more about our AC services.
