How Does A Dirty AC Filter Affect IAQ?

With the cooling season winding down, it is time for some much-deserved preventative maintenance; regular maintenance must be a part of the care for every mechanical system. However, the most vital maintenance task must be completed by the homeowner; that is, changing the AC filter on a regular basis.

Why Is This Important?

The air conditioning function requires a lot of air movement.

• The air conditioner cools a specially designed refrigerant gas to about 400
• Air from the home is moved over the tubes containing the cool gas, cooling the air.
• An additional benefit of air conditioning is removing excess moisture from the air. Summer air tends to be very humid, but the moisture collects on the tubes as condensation and drains away.

Air conditioning works beautifully, cooling the air and reducing the humidity. But it requires the movement of a lot of air.

How Air Moves

Inside of the air handler is a strong blower motor with a large fan. This device is incredibly powerful. It needs to be strong, since it pulls the entire volume of warm, moist air from the home into the cabinet and pushes it back into the home, cool, dry, air-conditioned. This happens very fast; the typical blower motor moves 1,000 cubic feet per minute.

The Role of the AC Filter

Every picture and movie about old, abandoned buildings always shows an ample supply of dust, mold, and other airborne contaminants. Filters remove a very high percentage of most:

• pollen
• dust, including dust mites
• dander
• fibers
• & other airborne contaminants

Air filters remove between 75% and 85% of most airborne particles, preventing a home from becoming a dusty, moldy mess.

Engineers place the AC filter in the most effective location—immediately before the air passes into the air handler cabinet. Remember, the cool, refrigerant-filled tubes are wet from the condensation. Allowing dust to blow into this chamber would create a wet mess.

Why AC Filters Need to Be Changed

Your AC filter is extremely effective, removing the majority of contaminants. After a few months, the entire surface of the filter is coated with dust. If left unchanged, the results are:

• Reduced airflow through the filter and into the air handler, which means: 
  • Reduced cooling and dehumidification
• The blower motor must work much harder, leading to: 
  • Reduced energy efficiency, and increased stress on the blower motor, electrical controls
  • Higher humidity, since dehumidification requires a lot of airflow through the air handler
  • Higher humidity can lead to mold and mildew growth, releasing spores into the home
• Excess stress will shorten component life and lead to: 
  • Ignoring the air filter can eventually lead to an early, emergency system replacement.

Your AC filter is readily available in home improvement, hardware, and many box stores in a variety of sizes. Air filters are rated to inform consumers about efficiency. Look for a number next to the acronyms MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) or MPR (Microparticle Performance Rating). Both measure the efficiency of the filter: the larger the number, the better the filter. Filters for residential systems should be in the MERV range of 10 to 12, and the MPR range of 1600 to 1900.

Is Your AC Ready for the Off-Season? Schedule Your Cypress AC Maintenance Now!

Don’t let a dirty AC filter sabotage your indoor air quality, efficiency, and comfort. Your HVAC system is under stress from a cooling season of hard work, compounded by a dirty AC filter. Now is the perfect time to ensure your unit is clean and prepared for the off-season to prevent major breakdowns. Don’t wait for reduced airflow to cause expensive damage; call AirPro Houston today to schedule your comprehensive Cypress AC maintenance service. Our expert technicians will inspect your system and provide the service needed to protect your investment.

For professional AC maintenance and repairs you can trust, contact AirPro Houston. We have several financing options available with great options. Up to 72-month terms with approved credit. Call us today at 281-880-8805 and let us partner with you for all of your Cypress AC maintenance needs.