Your air conditioner cools down your home and provides comfort when the sun is scorching. However, one of the most critical aspects that people are not usually mindful of is filter replacement. A dirty filter will create resistance to airflow, and this puts much pressure on the air conditioner, which in turn makes it work harder and might even lead to its premature end. Regular replacement of filters is one way of maintaining functionality in your AC. It may go a long way in reducing the costs of electricity bills. This guide will assist you in answering questions such as when you should replace the air conditioner filters with new ones.

It is essential to search for dust and debris that is easily seen.

The first clue that your air conditioner filter needs to be replaced is often the sight of the old filter that has tremendous dust, dirt, pet hair, and any other debris stuck to it. In extreme cases, the filter may appear very black and dirty, with some of the big particles and portions of the leaves or lint trapped within it. When you remove a particular filter on the light path, and all that tar-like materials can be seen, don’t put it back!! One would require a new filter when debris has accumulated and is seen.

Check Power Usage

They can indicate that the system has a filter that requires replacement, and this is due to the high energy consumption. When your filter is clogged and your airways blocked, your HVAC system consumes more energy. This could perhaps be seen in your summer power bills if the cost seems to have risen without any apparent reason, and this should be a clear indication that the filter needs to be changed.

This might also help reduce usage levels to more sustainable numbers and save cash. You can also try to check the actual amps or kW of the AC. Suppose there is a significant rise in the usage. In that case, it’s probable that the filter is dirty or there are other problems with the maintenance.

Listen for Strange Noises

Squeaking, screeching, groaning, or any other strange noise emanating from your indoor air handler unit or the outdoor condenser can also indicate that the filters need replacement. From the experiment, it was observed that as the months go by, the filter tends to accumulate a significant amount of contamination such that it becomes almost entirely occluded by debris. The air itself has extreme difficulty passing through it.

This means that the blower motor has to work much harder to draw or blow air through the narrowed passage. This may start as low-pitched whistling and build up to buzzing or even wheezing, depending on the increase in velocity of the airflow through the small gaps in the filter. Reduce stress on the HVAC system by checking for overused air filters and changing them as necessary.

Pay Attention to Airflow

Reduced air supply from the ventilation registers indicates that the air conditioner filters are dirty and restricted from passing adequate amounts of air. It may result in issues like some rooms barely cooling or others taking longer to cool than others when the system has been on for some time. Suppose you believe that the registers in your home are adjustable.

In that case, should try to open them to the maximum and determine if more cold air is blowing out. If the air is stagnant or slower, then it could mean that the fans have air blockage from the dirty filters. Reduce pressure and return proper CFM by changing filters. These appliances should be replaced at least once a year or even more frequently if you own pets.

Always consult your filter brand for specific guidelines for using the filter on your vehicle

There are so many disposable HVAC filters in the market today, and most of them will contain the recommended change-out frequency on the frame or in the package. Most of them recommend that you should replace the filters at least every 30-90 days or sometimes in terms of months of use. They also guide you on when to change filters, which is wise to follow to ensure your system is optimally performing.

If you are using high performance pleated filters, they can even have an actual pressure, drop rating to inform you when it is time to change based on the increase in air resistance through the filter. As a general guide, brand specs are a good start for maintaining equipment.

For this reason, a Smart Filter may be worth the upgrade

If one chooses not to change their filters based on a set time, then they opt for new smart filters that tell them when it is time to replace them. Other features, such as the electronic pressure and status indicators, are enhanced in products such as the 3M Filtrate Smart Air Filter, which has the indicators placed at the filter frame.

They employ the traffic light model to give a visual representation of a clean filter— green, yellow for moderate dirt that requires the user to consider a replacement soon, and red for when it’s necessary to replace it. It removes the guesswork and communicates loudly when airflow is too disrupted.

The Bottom Line

Freshening up the air conditioner filters and cleaning them is a primary preventive measure that helps in cutting costs on energy bills and the life of the system is also elongated because of proper circulation of air. Although companies suggest the approximate duration it should take for your filter to wear out, the conditions that the filter is exposed to are most crucial.

Hence, by understanding the rate at which they get used, the rate at which airflow is reduced, any odd sounds, or if they are dirty, it is possible to set the correct replacement frequency for a home’s needs. Spend a few minutes checking filters on a quarterly basis and replace them if necessary to ensure cool air is not blocked by dirt in ducts.