Your air conditioner unit rarely gets the attention it deserves when you are cleaning your house. In the hustle and bustle of domestic life, the maintenance of your air conditioner is understandably the last thing on your mind. After all, the air conditioner is simply one of those things that you will notice only when it stops working.
But in order to prevent your unit from malfunctioning, you need to ensure that all of its parts are thoroughly cleaned and in great condition. Aside from having a seasonal air conditioner maintenance contract, the next best thing you can do is to clean or replace your air conditioner filter regularly.
The air conditioner filter plays an important role in your home’s HVAC system. It filters the air and removes the particles that shouldn’t be there. As the filter continues to do its function day in and day out, it also gets clogged with particles, which could hamper your air conditioners performance.
Here are the warning signs that it’s time to check and replace your air conditioner filter:
- Heated air conditioner unit: If the back of your air conditioner unit is extremely hot, it means it is working too hard to push air through. Lessen the load by cleaning or replacing the air conditioner filter.
- Dusty surroundings: Check the areas around your home, especially the surfaces near the vents to see if they are dusty. You can also do a “white sheet test” to determine if the air conditioner filter needs replacement. Simply hang a clean white sheet about 5 inches away from one of the air conditioner’s vents. If the sheet has turned gray after an hour, then it is a sign that the air conditioner filter is dirty.
- Frequent allergy attacks: If the air conditioner filter is dirty, then the air that is being circulated by your air conditioner is dirty, too. You and your loved ones will be breathing in air full of dust and other allergens, which could trigger an allergy attack in your household.
- Reduced cooling efficiency: There could be a lot of reasons why your AC unit does not seem to cool the air as it used to. One of the most common reasons is an unclean air conditioner filter, which allows dirt to come in to the coils, making it more difficult for the air conditioner to function.
- Skyrocketing energy bills: The dirtier the air conditioner filter, the harder your air conditioner has to work, and the more energy it consumes. Make no mistake: a dirty filter can only lead to high energy bills, so don’t take it for granted!
Get Help Changing Your Air Conditioner Filter
Changing the air conditioner filter is something that can be done on your own. However, if you are too busy or you do not know how, you can always find a trustworthy and reliable HVAC company in St. Louis to help.
Galmiche & Sons Heating & Cooling can help you do this, as well as a host of other things when it comes to maintaining your heating and air conditioning systems. Call us now at 314-993-1110 to learn more and to receive a free quote!
