No matter what kind of environment you are living in, the filter on your air conditioner is going to take a lot of pressure. In terms of how well your air conditioner works, air filter efficiency often has a surprising impact on overall efficiency and function. You would be amazed how often we have found the real problem with a malfunctioning unit is just a dirty filter that needs replacing. Maintaining your unit while keeping an eye toward air filter efficiency can help avoid problems down the road and improve the life of your entire air system.
Of course, if you suspect something is wrong with your air conditioner, do not assume it is just an air filter efficiency problem. A heating & air conditioning professional, like the team at Galmiche & Sons, can help you diagnose and repair any problems with a malfunctioning machine.
Improving Air Filter Efficiency: How to Keep Things Running Smoothly
What does it take to keep air filter efficiency up and realize the benefits of a better functioning system, lower energy costs, and a longer lifetime for your unit? The first step is to make sure you are changing out the filter on a regular basis. Some systems have an indicator light to notify you when a filter is getting too dirty to work. Otherwise, checking the filter monthly is a good rule of thumb.
You can sometimes get away with less frequent replacements without sacrificing air filter efficiency, but the best way to be sure is to replace the filter regularly. There are a lot of household factors that can affect how often you will need to change the filter as well. Reducing or addressing these factors can improve air filter efficiency in your unit by quite a lot.
The following section outlines some common culprits when it comes to weakened air filter efficiency, but a professional opinion can help as well. Working with a St. Louis HVAC company like Galmiche & Sons can give you a better idea of what kind of maintenance your air conditioner needs given your household environment.
Top Offenders for Air Filter Efficiency Issues
Many of these factors are common sense. The more people and animals in a household, for instance, the more air filter efficiency is going to suffer. Others are a little subtler though. All in all, these are the top stressors for an air filter in the home:
- How often the system is used
- The size of the space being cooled
- Tobacco smoke from pipes or cigarettes
- Candles or incense
- Wood stoves
- Carpeted floors (carpet improves functionality)
- Whether there are pets in the house
Pets and household size are easy to understand, but most do not realize that factors like flooring can influence air filter efficiency too. Wood and tile floors allow particles like dust to blow up into vents and registers. Carpet, on the other hand, traps these offending bits and prevents them from dirtying the air filter. By addressing issues like smoke in the home and cleaning pet hair and dander regularly, you can improve the longevity and effectiveness of air filters by quite a lot.
Contact Galmiche & Sons for More Information on Air Filter Efficiency
If you have concerns about your home air filter efficiency or would like to discuss any other heating & air conditioning issues you may have, contact the experts at Galmiche & Sons in St. Louis today!
