How much do we depend on our air conditioners throughout the long, hot summer months? A lot. However, many homeowners don’t consider the value of their air conditioner filter and how much your system depends on it for good functionality.

The air conditioner filter removes debris—like dust, hair, pet dander and other pollutants—from the air before it’s blown through the ducts and into your home. The air filter is invaluably linked to your home’s indoor air quality and significantly helps protect you and your family from allergens when properly maintained.

But what does properly maintaining your air filter mean?
Your air conditioner filter gets dirty fairly quickly during peak season. This prevents the cold air your air conditioner produces from flowing through the system properly. This can lead to the freezing of certain system components and a host of other problems and costly repairs—not to mention the discomfort of a broken air conditioner all summer!

ENERGY STAR recommends that you check and clean or change the filter every month during the summer to keep your air quality at its best. When you maintain your system with a clean filter, you’re allowing it to run more efficiently and thus lower your carbon footprint and reduce your monthly utility bills!

Not sure how often you should change your filter? Consider the following:

• The overall air quality of your home based on where you live.
• Any pets—whether they’re indoor or outdoor!
• How many people live in your home.
• Construction, roadwork or any other pollution in the area.

Keep an eye on your filter and you’ll eventually fall into a pattern of when it’s best to change it!

An important thing to keep in mind:
When you install a new air filter, it’s vital that it’s the proper size and fit for your air conditioner according to its MERV rating. MERV = Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, which rates the effectiveness of your air conditioner filter. A higher MERV is not always better, as your air conditioner has a specific filter requirement that allows it to work at a high efficiency.

Having trouble with your filter? Fahrhall Home Comfort Specialists are happy to help!

Schedule an appointment for air conditioning maintenance and our technicians will clean or replace your filter as needed and guide you through what steps to take in the future.