The outside of the air conditioner can be warm to the touch, or hot air can even come out the back. Increased wear and overheating can cause major repairs and total air conditioner breakdowns. The bottom line is, if you feel like the air conditioner is hot, check to see if the filter is dirty; replacing it should correct the problem. A general rule of thumb for pleated air filters (such as those made by FilterBuy) is to change them every 90 days.
As the filter traps more dirt, dust, and allergens from the air, the efficiency of the filter decreases. Next, find out if you should replace the filter more often. However, experts recommend changing it once every 30 days if the air filter is made of fiberglass filters, which are of relatively poor quality. On the other hand, expensive pleated filters can work well if replaced once every three to six months. If you notice that the filter is very discolored and covered with dust or hair, this is a very obvious sign that you need to change it.
The particles you find in this dirty filter are very likely to spread through the air in your house. One of the easiest ways to spot a filter that needs to be changed is to look at it. A clean, fresh filter will mostly be white, but it will darken as dust and dirt builds up. If the filter looks very dark and dirty, it might be time to change it. If you're not sure about something, you can ask a technician to check the filters for you.
A dirty filter can restrict air flow to the engine and, if the engine doesn't have enough air to run, it compensates by burning additional fuel. Simply put, if the air quality outside and inside your home is poor, you'll need to replace your air filter more often. Any use will cause a certain amount of dirt to be trapped in the air filter; after all, that's your job. The longer a filter goes without being replaced, the more allergens and dust it will accumulate and eventually spread through the air in the house. In addition to filtering particulates filtered by MERV 8 and 11, MERV 13 can filter kitchen smoke, smog, and virus carriers. It's easy to overlook an air filter, but if left unmaintained, it can negatively affect your heating and cooling system, health, and home.
Clean filters don't require as much energy from the air conditioning system to work properly as a dirty air filter. If there is a layer of visible dirt that covers most of the surface of the filter and is thick enough to hide the filter material itself, it is a sign that the filter has been in the air conditioning system for too long. If you have young children in your house, you'll need to change the air filter more often, once every 2 to 3 months. Dirty air filters can force the unit to consume more energy and cause a possible breakage or allow dust, dirt, and other particles to enter the unit, causing it to overheat and be damaged. If you have an asthmatic or allergic person at home, change the filter every 6 weeks to ensure optimal indoor air quality.
You can search for a filter on your own, or contact Wyckoff to have a certified technician determine which filter is the best fit for your unit and complete the replacement for you. Therefore, there is no clear answer as to how long the air filter can work efficiently before needing a replacement. It doesn't matter if your air conditioning or HVAC system is used to heat or cool your home; the air that circulates eventually has to pass through the filter. In addition to cleaning your filters regularly, you should consider the most common signs that an air conditioner filter should be replaced; here are five of them:
- The outside of your AC unit feels warm or hot
- The air filter looks very dark and dirty
- The air filter has been in use for more than 90 days
- You have young children at home
- You have an asthmatic or allergic person at home
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