Why You Should Replace Your AC’s Air Filter This Summer

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There are a lot of different steps you can take to make sure that your air conditioner is ready to deal with the summer heat. Preventive maintenance, for example, can make your system up to 40% more effective and 90% less likely to develop problems. If you’re looking for something you can do personally to make sure that your system stays in good condition, though, there is one major thing that can help: changing the air filter. Let’s have a look at why the air filter is such an important part of the air conditioning system, and why you need to change it every few months.

What It Does

Like all air filters, your air conditioner’s air filter is designed to remove contaminants from the ducts’ air flow that might otherwise threaten the system. Dust and other kinds of debris that are carried through the ducts on air currents are captured when they meet the filter in the return duct of the system. The more debris that the filter accumulates, though, the more clogged it will become. If you don’t change your air filter at least once every three months or so, you are setting yourself up for a problem in the future.

An air filter that becomes clogged will cut off the flow of most air into the air conditioning system. This lowers the cooling output of the air conditioner. It also can increase strain on the air conditioning system, so it’s best not to risk it happening at all. Just replace your air filter every handful of months, and it should protect your system just fine without causing issues.

How to Change the Filter

The first thing you need to do is make sure that you have a replacement air filter on hand to begin with. If you’re not sure which air filter your system requires, call a professional and we’ll be happy to help you out. Once you have the replacement air filter, look at the air conditioner and see if you can locate the air return duct. That’s the part where your home’s ducts meet the system. There should be a latch or cover somewhere around there that houses the air filter. Open it, and slide the old filter out. Be sure to take note of the arrows on the side of the filter, and the direction that they are pointing.

Now that you’ve removed the old filter, slide the new one into place. Make sure that the arrows on the new filter are pointing in the same direction as the ones on the old filter were. Once that’s done, close and secure the cover. That’s it! You have successfully changed your system’s air filter. You should notice a slight uptick in the efficiency of the system, especially if the filter hasn’t been changed before. Now you just need to make sure that you do that every few months to keep the air conditioner functioning properly.

Bell Plumbing and Heating provides comprehensive air conditioning services in Lakewood, CO. If you need help with your air conditioner, contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our experts.

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