Your air conditioning unit pulls air in, cools it, and blows it back out. All day. Everyday. There is no way to tell how many times your air conditioning unit feeds dusty air into your home. To combat dirty air, an easy step to take is cleaning your air conditioning filters.
You should be cleaning your filters at least once a month. If you have pets, you should be cleaning them more frequently. Read more about maintaining your HVAC unit with pets in the house.
Cleaning your air conditioning filters is vital for several reasons:
- Reduces allergies in your home
- Saves you money
- Increases the life of your HVAC unit
REDUCE ALLERGIES
Your HVAC unit doesn’t purify the air. In fact, it is known to blog all sorts of dust, dirt, pollen, hair, spider webs, or more around your home. These particles and allergens are coming in from outside or from the inside of your air ducts and polluting the air in your home.
If you are an allergy sufferer, then you know that keeping your home clean is vital to relieving your allergies during peak season and year-round. Cleaning your air conditioning filters regularly may help clear away some of those allergens leaving your home finally feeling clean, and providing you some relief.
Pet owners especially should clean their air filters a few days before having guests over. Like vacuuming the dog hair off of your carpet or cat hair off the couch, to maintain the comfort of your guests, you should clean your filters even if you guests are not allergic to pet dander. Homes without pets should consider cleaning your filters before entertaining guests simply to provide a clean, dust-free home for friends or family.
SAVES YOU MONEY
A well-maintained A/C unit with clean filters can drastically reduce your energy bill by reducing the amount of work your A/C unit is doing to keep your home clean.
Not only will clean air filters keep your energy bill down, but you will also save on the unnecessary cost of buying new filters since buying new air filters for your home regularly can be annoying and the costs can add up.
Figuring one filter costs around $10, and it is recommended you change your filters about every other month. Changing one filter for a year could cost around $60, but changing every filter in your house for a year could cost several hundred or even thousands of dollars depending on the size of your house.
To save money, an easy option is to clean your air conditioning filters frequently. There are several easy steps to cleaning your A/C filters and keeping your home clean.
STEPS TO CLEAN YOUR AIR FILTERS:
- Remove the filter from the air conditioning unit or vent.
- Check for damage. If there is any damage you will need to replace it. If not, proceed with cleaning it instead.
- Carefully pull large hair or dust-bunnies off of the filter.
- Rinse the filter in a sink, shower, or tub. Use gentle water pressure so as not to damage the filter, but strong enough to blow the dirt and debris free.
- Use a small amount of dishwashing soap and a soft-bristled brush like a toothbrush to get stubborn dust out of the filter.
- Let the filter drip dry on a towel.
- When the filter is dry, vacuum it with the hose softly to remove any remaining dust.
- After the filter is dry and clean, replace it carefully in the unit.
INCREASE THE LIFE OF YOUR HVAC UNIT
Like any appliance, when you have HVAC unit, there are certain steps you have to take to maintain your unit. One of those steps is regularly cleaning and replacing your air conditioning filters. Ultimately, cleaning your filters regularly, and replacing them when needed will increase the lifespan of your HVAC unit. There is no better way to save money than making your unit last as long as possible and reducing the need for expensive repairs.
If you do find yourself needing repairs or routine maintenance on your HVAC heating or cooling unit, call First Class HVAC for fast service done right the first time. Call 302-804-1309 or contact us for more information on HVAC repairs or maintenance in your Delaware home.