Why is a dirty AC filter such a problem? Why does it get so dirty so easily? The following points will help you better understand the topic, clarifying why you need to replace your filters regularly.

What do air conditioner air filters actually do?

An AC system consists of many different components. All of these need to function properly for the entire system to work.

The problem is, at any given time, the surrounding air is filled with numerous contaminants and particulates. If these contaminants were to get inside your system, they could interfere with the operation of one or several components.

That’s why an AC filter is such a critical part of your AC. It protects the system from these contaminants. The result? Smooth and consistent operation.

What happens when I have a dirty filter for my AC?

AC filters protect the system by, as the name suggests, collecting contaminants in the air before they can cause damage. Which also means pollutants will accumulate on the filter over time.

This can result in numerous consequences if the filter isn’t replaced. Primarily, dirty filters force your air conditioner to work harder to cool your home. Using more energy leads to higher utility bills. It can also put too much strain on your system. The system may break down without warning as a result.

Another Important Dirty AC Filter Point to Remember

You already know that regularly changing your filters is key to avoiding high energy bills and ensuring your system works optimally. However, changing your filters often is also important from a health and comfort perspective.

Again, the types of contaminants that may accumulate on dirty filters are wide-ranging. Unfortunately, bacteria can also accumulate on your filters. At a certain point, your filter will no longer be able to collect everything in the air.

A house that provides comfort to its members will be blessed by being the favorite hang out of the family members. Parents who have children and who want to gather them inside the house as much as possible should make sure they make their surroundings comfortable and cool.

One way of ensuring your family’s comfort is through the installation of proper air ventilation and air conditioning systems inside the house. This will enable family members to relax in the comfort of their rooms especially during summer. Staying in a cool house will be a much relaxing and pleasant experience which will encourage family members to stay indoors more often.

The first and most simple step to take to prolong your air conditioner’s life is to change the filter. You should change it whenever it gets dirty. Depending on the usage, that could range from every three to six months. There are some filters out there, which can last up to a year. Ask someone in the hardware store for more tips!

Once a year be sure that you check the evaporator coil located inside the air handler to make sure there is no dust build up.

When the weather starts to cool you should check the outside of the air conditioning. You should check around the unit and make sure there is no debris on the surface of the condenser that will stop airflow. Also you should check between the fins of the condenser to see that it’s not plugged with dead bugs or pollen. Spraying the condenser with a hose will usually be good enough to get rid of all the debris.

Air Conditioner Coils

The air conditioner’s evaporator coil and condenser coil collect dirt over their months and years of service. A clean filter prevents the evaporator coil from soiling quickly. In time, however, the evaporator coil will still collect dirt. This dirt reduces airflow and insulates the coil, reducing its ability to absorb heat. To avoid this problem, check your evaporator coil every year and clean it as necessary.

Outdoor condenser coils can also become very dirty if the outdoor environment is dusty or if there is foliage nearby. You can easily see the condenser coil and notice if dirt is collecting on its fins.

You should minimize dirt and debris near the condenser unit. Your dryer vents, falling leaves, and lawn mower are all potential sources of dirt and debris. Cleaning the area around the coil, removing any debris, and trimming foliage back at least 2 feet (0.6 meters) allow for adequate airflow around the condenser.

Coil Fins

The aluminum fins on evaporator and condenser coils are easily bent and can block airflow through the coil. Air conditioning wholesalers sell a tool called a “fin comb” that will comb these fins back into nearly original condition.

Condensate Drains

Occasionally pass a stiff wire through the unit’s drain channels. Clogged drain channels prevent a unit from reducing humidity, and the resulting excess moisture may discolor walls or carpet.

Window Seals for Room Air Conditioners

At the start of each cooling season, inspect the seal between the air conditioner and the window frame to ensure it makes contact with the unit’s metal case. Moisture can damage this seal, allowing cool air to escape from your house.

Before you do that, there are a few things you should know. The following checklist will help you prep your AC for Florida’s short winter and ensure it works as well in the spring when you turn it back on as it did in the fall.

Winterize Your Florida Air Conditioner

• Get your unit serviced by an AC technician. You want peace of mind over the winter that your system was in good working condition. If you’ve been putting off an upgrade, the fall or early winter is an ideal time to replace your AC. Not only is downtime not a big deal but you might find some good prices this time of year.
• Clean your AC. Hose it off to remove bird droppings, dog urine, small creatures, and other things that make their way into our units down here. Pick up any twigs and clear away things that have grown up around the unit. You need the ventilation around it so make sure it’s free from high grass, weeds, and plants.
• Examine the condition of the coils from the outside. If you have a dog, it’s not uncommon for the dog urine to have a caustic effect on the unit.
• Replace your air filter. You should be doing this regularly anyway, based on the manufacturer’s suggestion, but a change of season is also a good reminder to do it, particularly because of fall’s dust and allergens that can be sucked up into it causing the system to run less efficiently.
• Check the condition of the AC unit. Look for cracks, pipes that aren’t connected, and drains that are clogged. You needn’t be an AC technician to be able to see a problem. With the heavy rains, winds, and hurricanes in Florida, things can become disconnected or cracked without us realizing it.

• Cover the AC and use foam insulation to cover pipes. This is not necessary except in extreme cold. Just for clarification, extreme cold is not 40 degrees. We suggest covering at temps closer to 20 and below. It could happen in the Tampa Bay area, although chances are you’re going to need the blanket more than your AC will.
• Check your AC every week or so for twigs and other debris that blows in as well as creatures that could be looking for a home when it gets chilly. Keep the unit clutter free and it should start fine come spring.

• Cover the AC and use foam insulation to cover pipes. This is not necessary except in extreme cold. Just for clarification, extreme cold is not 40 degrees. We suggest covering at temps closer to 20 and below. It could happen in the Tampa Bay area, although chances are you’re going to need the blanket more than your AC will.
• Check your AC every week or so for twigs and other debris that blows in as well as creatures that could be looking for a home when it gets chilly. Keep the unit clutter free and it should start fine come spring.

Another thing you may want to do while you’re prepping your AC for some well-deserved rest is fire up your heater to make sure it’s running efficiently. It’s better to know you have an issue now than to wait until you’re freezing at 4 a.m. in January.

Call a Heating Repair Technician

The very first thing you want to do after you’ve checked all the normal things — like your thermostat doesn’t need batteries and no one set it to AC by mistake — once you know there’s an issue, call a Tampa heating repair specialist.

Just as sure as you know your smoke detector battery will run out in the middle of the night, calls to heating companies increase on the coldest days. Get your call in the moment you know there’s a problem. Don’t waste any time in trying to “get through the night.”

An Important Thing to Remember

It’s important to understand carbon monoxide and the dangers of it. I know it seems silly but we feel obligated to remind people, no matter how cold you are, don’t bring your grill or camping stove inside to warm you. That type of equipment requires ventilation. Check out these other heating safety concerns.

A swamp cooler uses moisture to cool air. A swamp cooler (which is also called an evaporative air conditioner) works by taking warm outside air through wet evaporative cooler pads, effectively cooling the air. The cold air is then blown into a home by a blower motor through a vent. The main parts of a swamp cooler can be found in the diagram below.