If you find yourself having to change your A/C Filters more often than you think you need to; there may be a few things that are causing your air filter to become dirty quicker.
Lack of regularly scheduled air conditioning maintenance and the way you operate your cooling and heating system could be causing your air filters to become dirty faster than they should!
AC Filter Maintenance
If you are not changing your A/C filters monthly, or when necessary, your cooling and heating system will work less efficiently and cost you money.
The frequency at which you will need to change your A/C filter will depend on a number of factors such as how often you use your system, do you have pets, are you remodeling and how many contaminants are entering your home.
Quality of Your Filters
If you are not choosing one a good quality A/C filter it will not last very long before it needs to be changed. Air quality is measured by a MERV rating (minimum efficiency reporting value) – the higher the MERV ranking is, the more efficient your A/C system will operate.
Air Conditioning filters that have a lower MERV rating tend to be less expensive than filters with a higher MERV rating so they can be tempting to buy. While these filters may be less expensive, it is important to remember that they will last a shorter amount of time before needing to be changed, increasing your cost in the long run
Leaking AC Ductwork
Another issue that affects how quickly your A/C filters are becoming dirty is when your system has leaking air ducts. When your system’s air ducts are leaking it causes dust and other airborne contaminants to be pulled into your unit from areas that are used less often and are generally dirtier than the rest of your home. Not only does this mean your system’s air filters will become clogged and dirty more quickly, but it also means your system will run less efficiently, use more energy and increase your costs.
Not Running Your Fan On “Auto”
Your system’s thermostat will provide you with two different fan settings to choose from – “on” and “auto”. When you choose to set your system’s fan to the “on” setting, your system’s fan will run continuously until you turn it off. When you choose to set your system’s fan to the “auto” setting, your system’s fan will turn on and off automatically as it cycles through each heating or cooling cycle. By setting your thermostat to “auto”, your system will be able to run and process the airborne contaminants coming into your unit more efficiently.
However, if you do not see the problem clearly or none of these tips helped you to solve your A/C Filters problem, please do not hesitate to contact us to receive more information about it!
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As an air conditioning technician, I am responsible for the maintenance and repair of HVAC systems. I work with various tools and equipment to troubleshoot and repair issues with AC units. My work can sometimes be challenging, but it is gratifying to help keep people comfortable in their homes and businesses!