The air conditioning filter is one
of the most important air conditioning parts in the air conditioning system.
Without it, your air conditioning system would be dirty and the air you breathe
would be filled with pollutants. All air conditioning parts, from the ductwork
to the air conditioning refrigerant, need the air conditioning filter to be
clean and replaced to ensure you're getting the very best in central air
conditioning.
If an air conditioning filter is
left dirty, over time, it can lead to higher energy costs and short equipment
life due to all the air conditioning parts relying on each other. One cannot
work without the other. Overall, your heating and cooling will not be as
effective and you will need to invest in more air conditioning repair and air
conditioning maintenance.
An air conditioning filter should be
changed every month or every two months for home air conditioning systems and
every couple of weeks for certain commercial or industrial air conditioning
since it's running almost 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Doing this as a
routine in your monthly chores and not waiting until you see dust matted on the
air conditioning filter will ensure you and your family the very best health as
well as a smooth running air conditioning system. Dust particles cannot always
be seen so even if you see a little dust on the air filter, clean it as you
normally would.
Since there are a variety of air
conditioning filters , how quickly one gets blocked versus another depends on
the brand - most air conditioning filters are sized 1 ½ to 2 square feet for
each ton of capacity for a home or commercial property.
You can judge a filter's ability to
clean by using MERV ratings - Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value - which is a
rating of how efficient an air conditioning filter is from 1-12. The higher the
rating, the more effective it is at removing particles such as animal dander,
pollen, dust, mold and other allergens, and the better the protection for your
air conditioning equipment . Most air conditioning filters screen out particles
measuring from 3 to 10 microns in size.
The common types of air conditioning filters are:
Conventional fiberglass disposable filters (1" and
2"): These are common in most homes and
small industrial air conditioners and commercial air conditioning systems.
Since they are disposable and have an adhesive coating that traps the dust, you
should not clean the filters. This may damage the filter's ability to remove
particles by damaging the adhesive coating and/or the underlying mesh work. They
are both not as effective as other types of filters even though they are lower
in cost.
Pleated fiberglass disposable filters (1" and 2"): The 1" are generally used in many residential and
commercial settings and are made of materials that can vary in the
effectiveness. Usually, they are more densely woven to increase the efficiency
of removing dirt. These have a larger surface area to lead to increased
trapping of particles as compared to conventional filters. They must be
specified for your air conditioning system or this can lead to increased demand
on your air conditioning components. Thereby, a mismatch can be
counterproductive on the health of the air conditioning system and possibly
lead to higher air conditioning maintenance and service cost. You should check
with the air conditioning manufacturer as to the appropriate type of pleated
filter for your system. A filter spray can also be applied after the cleaning
and drying of the air conditioning air filter.
Electrostatic filters:
Different in design and performance, since there are so many varieties, it is
rather difficult to determine which is the most efficient. They are commonly
advertised as allergy-free air conditioning filters. These filters also come in
the 1" and 2" sizes. Air that moves through the filter creates a
static charge that collects any dust in the filter. They may require more
cleaning and more blower power.
Electronic filters:
Connected to an electrical power source and usually wall mounted, electronic
filters come with a pre-filter that can collect larger particles and only need
to be cleaned every six months.
Carbon filters:
These filters contain carbon that can control any odor problems you might have
within the air conditioning system. They can also be useful in homes with
pets.
Air Conditioning Filter Installation
When placing the appropriate air
conditioning filter in to the system, the filter should be placed in the
correct direction as indicated by the arrow located on the side or face of the
filter. Air should flow in the proper direction which is in the same direction
as the arrows. This allows the filter to work appropriately, as the air exits
the filter in the most reinforced part of the filter.
The air conditioning filter should
fit tightly. A perfect seal is necessary to prevent unfiltered air from
entering and damaging your air conditioning system. Without a perfect seal and
appropriate sizing, the filter is useless. Additionally, the non-conventional
filters may have a higher efficiency and may not fit your system. This should
be checked with an air conditioning company, contractor, or air conditioning
supply company.
Coolaire
Consolidated’s Daikin systems offer the kinds of innovative and unique
product features that deliver the optimum in air conditioned comfort and
control. Various sites can range in size from
a few hundred to several thousands of square feet. That’s why we offer a range
of systems with advanced features to meet practically any challenge: our
flexible, reliable, and energy-efficient air conditioning systems deliver
Absolute Comfort to nearly any building, making it the ideal solution.