There are a lot of different parts to your air conditioning system that work together to help it do its job. From your evaporator coil to the fans that blow your cool air through the house, each part of your AC has to work together and work well to help you achieve the comfort you are looking for. But there is one part of your system that doesn’t move at all and yet it plays just as important a role in keeping that cool air flowing.
We are talking about your air filter. The air filter in your air conditioner plays an important role not only is keeping the air flowing through your system, but also in allowing your system to do its job. All too often this part of the AC gets ignored but we want to explain why you want to add checking your filter to your regular list of “to-dos.”
What Does the Filter Do?
The air filter that we are talking about here is one that sits in your return air filter. Rather than working to filter the air that is entering your home, this filter is made to protect the internal workings of your air conditioner. This is a membrane that is built to capture dust, dirt, or debris in the air being pulled into your system to keep them out.
Why is the Filter Important to Keeping Things Cool?
Your air filter helps with the cooling process in an indirect way. Because the filter protects your system from essentially inhaling all the dust and debris that is in the air in your home it is going to help those parts of your system keep operating. For example, without your filter, the evaporator coil may become coated in dust, start to have problems with absorbing heat and begin short cycling which is bad for your system and your wallet. See, as we said, the filter may seem like a small part of the equation but it will have a big impact!
When to Check Your Filter
Your filter is going to see a lot of action during the summertime when your AC is getting the most use. This means that the time before you start using your system and the season right after, spring and fall, are going to be ideal times to look at your filter. If you have two duct-based systems, like a central AC and a furnace, we advise checking the filter every one to three months.
Not sure if you’ll be able to remember that? We can make things a lot easier with air conditioning maintenance in Coeur d’Alene, ID. Our maintenance services will make sure that your filter is cleaned or changed out along with checking on the rest of your AC to make sure everything else is clean, tight, and adjusted properly.
ACI Northwest is here to help with your home comfort needs or concerns. Please do not hesitate to contact us for helpful advice. Contact us today to learn more about our services for your air conditioning system.