When it comes to air conditioning maintenance, you may already know what to do. Once a year, give a professional a call to come in and inspect your system, make any necessary adjustments, clean the unit inside and out, and recommend repairs if needed.
Is that all that can be done, though? If you’re wondering if once a year is often enough to do any maintenance to your air conditioner, the answer is no.
There is one maintenance task in particular that homeowners can not only do on their own, but they should be doing on their own, and that’s changing the air filter in the system. But, why?
There’s a common misconception among homeowners that the air filter in their HVAC system is there to protect the indoor air quality of their home. The truth of the matter is the air filter is in place to protect the interior components of the air conditioner itself from dust, dirt, and other debris that can do it harm.
How this works is, the blower fan sucks in air through the filter before heating or cooling it and sending it out to the vents of your home, and the filter is designed to stop the debris from coming in with it. If a filter is too clogged up, though, it can’t do its job.
What’s more, the blower fan can’t suck in much air at all—meaning airflow is restricted and household members are left feeling uncomfortable. In addition, your air conditioner was designed to take in a certain amount of air with each cycle, so any reduction can interfere with the functionality of the entire system.
The blower fan we mentioned above is prone to becoming overworked. If a clogged air filter blocks airflow, the fan has to work even harder to keep you comfortable. So if you don’t regularly change the air filter, you may need to replace the blower fan much sooner than you otherwise would have.
Additionally, you’ll also be faced with the possibility of coils freezing over, which is a bad sign for your system. The good news is, these potentially costly problems can easily be prevented by changing the air filter!
It’s recommended that you change out the air filter every 1-3 months during periods of system use. We get that you may not feel like purchasing a filter this often is a good use of money, however, this will help keep the costs lower on your energy bills and easily compensate for the cost of the filters.
If your fan is working overtime, your energy bills will reflect it. It might not seem like the cost will be significant, but it adds up, particularly when you factor in what you’re saving on potential repairs.
Last but not least, the less there is restricting your air conditioner from performing as effectively and efficiently as it should, the longer your air conditioner will last!
When you need service for your Katy, TX air conditioning, look no further than Fresh Air, LP Contact us today!
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