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When Should I Change My Air Conditioner’s Filter?

Many homeowners forget about a very important part of their home’s air conditioning system: the air filter. Air filters are responsible for filtering out dust particles, allergens, and other pollutants from your indoor air. This being said, they also can have a negative impact if they are left too long and are not changed out regularly. Over time, air filters accumulate dust and can become caked with pollutants, blocking airflow from passing through the filter and into your home. This can cause a disturbance in air pressure within your system and potentially lead to breakdowns, all while negatively impacting your indoor air quality.

Without air conditioning, the summer heat can be downright miserable. That’s why it’s so important to maintain your air conditioner properly. One aspect of caring for your air conditioner is easy and accessible for every homeowner. That’s changing your air filter when you’re supposed to do so. Unfortunately, many homeowners simply neglect that air filter with detrimental consequences for their AC unit.

You should change your air filters for your air conditioning system approximately every 30 to 45 days depending on your home’s condition, such as pets, amount of occupants, and air quality. Keep reading to learn more about why your air filter is so important and why you should change it regularly.

 

Change HVAC Air Filters Monthly

During seasons of high HVAC use, such as summer, it is very important to change your air filter approximately once a month. Failing to do so could end up costing you in the long run. Keep reading to learn about how critical a clean filter is to the life of your ac unit.

Air Conditioner Not Blowing Cold Air? Find Out Why

 

 

Inspect breaker, connections, and start capacitor

Electrical problems can prevent components from turning and staying on. Check all connections thoroughly.

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If your air conditioner isn’t blowing cold air, keep an eye out for any electrical issues that could be the cause. Signs include a breaker flipping, visible damage to wiring, or capacitor stuttering.

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A compressor that is faulty or on its way out can definitely cause your air conditioner to blow warm air. To know if you have a compressor problem, click here to see the signs.

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4 ways to troubleshoot a thermostat

If you think your thermostat is causing your warm air, see how to test it before calling a pro.

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Here’s Why You Must Change Your Home’s Air Filter

 

The air filter in your AC unit helps to ensure that you’re breathing clean, fresh air. When you’re in your home, and even when you’re outside, clean air should be important to you. Even your pets prefer to breathe fresh air!

Providing optimal air quality through your AC system is the number one job of your regular air filter. If you have allergies, you’ll also be helping keep potentially problematic debris like dander, dirt and dust from getting into your lungs, nose and on your skin.

It’s also important to understand what a dirty air filter does to your AC system.

 

What’s Wrong with an Old Air Filter?

When you think about it, you probably can’t come up with too many reasons why an old air filter would be such a big problem. Sure, your air might not be as clean, but that seems like the only issue, right? Not true at all!

When you’re running an air conditioning system with a dirty air filter, you’re putting the whole system at risk. That’s because a clogged air filter strains the system by literally making it harder to push cool air out of the vents.

When air filters are dirty and clogged, they can cause your system to overheat, malfunction or even shut down completely. Leaving a clogged air filter in place for long periods of time can also shorten the life of your entire AC system and make big repair bills a lot more likely.

A clogged air filter also keeps your system from running in an efficient manner. That can result in high cooling bills and a home that just isn’t as comfortable as you would like, especially when the temperature outside climbs above 100 degrees.

A dirty filter not only causes dust and pollutants to enter your indoor air, but it can also block airflow and cause pressure issues that lead to costly breakdowns within your HVAC system. Don’t let a dirty air filter leave you with no air conditioning and expensive repair costs! Be sure you are replacing your air filters as needed. 

Where Can I Buy A/C Filters? Connect with the Professionals

Changing your air filter regularly according to your AC unit’s instructions is something you can and should do on your own. Mark it down on your calendar and keep a spare air filter handy so you’re always on schedule.

However, there’s more to an efficient air conditioner than just a clean filter. That’s why it’s very important that you schedule a professional tune-up before the summer season starts. Doing so can keep you from facing a big repair bill or spending a ton of money to cool your home with an inefficient system. Get a tune-up now and you’ll be ready for the summer heat before it becomes a major problem.

Contact Ace Home Services to learn more about changing your AC filters and why it’s so important to do it on a regular schedule. ACE Home Services has been in business since 1994, and we look forward to serving all of your air conditioning, heating and plumbing needs.

 

Learn three major signs that your air filter is dirty and needs to be replaced.

3 Signs That You Need to Change Your Air Filter

Not changing your home’s air filters regularly can lead to equipment failure, including running less efficiently and not blowing cold air. Properly maintaining your HVAC system will undoubtedly save money in the long-run. Here are some warning signs to look for.

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As dust and pollutants accumulate on your air filter overtime, the airflow within your HVAC system and throughout your home may become restricted. Restricted air flow causes your system to work harder as it tries to distribute air properly. This requires your system to use more energy just to keep your home cool. If you happen to notice a spike in your energy bill even though you haven’t changed anything, then your air filter may be to blame.

Once your air filter becomes caked with dust and pollutants, it can no longer filter out the allergens and particles it was originally designed to remove. Not only does this strongly impact the indoor air quality of your home, but this problem may represent itself physically in the form of dust. If you notice that your home is becoming more and more dusty, then you may want to check your air filter.

Although there are many reasons that can cause your air conditioning system to stop blowing cool air, one of the primary reasons may be your air filter. A dirty air filter clogs your system and prevents it from cooling your home like it normally would. We suggest changing your air filter once a month during summer months to avoid this problem.

 

  1. Dust and Allergen Buildup

 

Have you noticed that there is an increased amount of dust accumulating in your home? This is one of the major signs that you should replace your air filter. Old filters are usually clogged with all of the pollutants and contaminants they have trapped. Once they’re no longer able to trap excess dust and dirt, these particles will not be filtered and end up circulating throughout your home.

  1. Reduced Power Output

guy asking where can i buy a/c filters?

 

A dirty air filter can cause additional strain on your air conditioning unit, specifically the motor. This strain not only pushes the motor to work harder, it also requires an excessive amount of electricity. You may notice that your A/C is not as powerful when turned on, or even a spike in your energy bill as the motor tried to compensate for the dirty filter.

  1. Reduced Airflow

 

A common symptom of a dirty air filter results in reduced air flow throughout your home. You may feel that your air conditioning is no longer expelling adequate air throughout the vents. When your air filter is clogged, not as much air is able to pass through the filter and into the vents. Not only does this result in your HVAC system working less efficiently, but it negatively affects the distribution of air within your home.

Call the Experts

If you’re having problems with your air conditioner, such as it’s not blowing cold air, or if you ever find yourself asking where can I buy ac filters anyway? You should have a trusted HVAC company come out and take a look. At ACE Home Services we’ve been serving Phoenix residents for nearly three decades. To contact us for a service call, click here or call (602) 428-3341 .

 

Is Changing the Air Filter Really That Important?

Changing your air filter regularly is very important to the health and performance of your air conditioning system. During seasons of high use, such as summer, you should change your filter every month. Even during seasons of low usage, you should still check your air filter often, at least every couple of months.

Do I Really Need To Change My Air Filter?

Simply put, YES! A dirty air filter can threaten your A/C and cause costly breakdowns. Contrary to popular belief, air filters are not just responsible for maintaining the quality of air in your home. A dirty filter can affect air pressure and disrupt the internal environment of your HVAC system. Keep reading to learn the different functions and responsibilities of your air filter.

 

Air Quality & Damage Control

One of the primary jobs of your air filter is to filter the air that enters your HVAC system and the air that circulates in your home. Different filters block different sizes and types of particles. In general, a standard air filter can prevent dust and pollutants from affecting the quality of your air. More importantly, the filter protects debris from entering the system and damaging it. A good filter can improve your indoor air quality and prevent damage.

A Dirty Filter Can Be Worse Than No Filter

The longer you use your air filter, the dirtier it becomes. As dirt and pollutants build up, the air filter won’t just stop filtering air, but can actually block air flow completely. When the air is blocked, it disrupts the balance of air pressure within your system and can cause damages, malfunctions, leaks, and more. When you leave a dirty filter in too long, your HVAC system will work overtime as it tries to compensate for this. This will put you at risk of having an air conditioner that won’t work and raise your energy costs and threaten the lifespan and efficiency of your system. This is even worse than if you had no filter at all! Changing your filter regularly can help prevent problems and save you money in the long run.

 

Stay Informed With ACE Home Services

Check out our other help pages to learn more about air filters and find which type of air filter is right for you! If you have any questions or want to speak to a live representative, ACE Home Services is available now to schedule an HVAC appointment.

 

Is Your Air Filter Killing Your HVAC System?

An air filter’s primary job is to trap dust and large particles, preventing these objects from entering your HVAC system and the air in your home. These fragments can accumulate and cause malfunction in your unit, ultimately ruining your home’s cooling/heating system. Overworking your air filter, or using a filter that affects air pressure, can cause your filter to go from the safety net into the money pit.

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Overworking Your Air Filter

 

Leaving your air filter in your ducts too long can cause dust and particles to build up and overwork the filter. Just like yourself, the quality of your filter is affected by working overtime. Every air filter has its own life expectancy, in which its efficiency and performance can decrease over time. Not only will the air quality in your home be affected by this, but your energy bills can increase as your heating and cooling system work harder to compensate for a filthy filter. Filters that are caked with dust can disrupt air flow and waste energy. Swapping your old filter out for a fresh, new one can help you avoid costly maintenance fees or system failures. Our experts at ACE suggest you check your air filter every month, especially during seasons of high use, such as summer or winter. Keep fresh air flowing efficiently in your home by monitoring the cleanliness of your filter!

 

ACE Home Services Phoenix -change air filter

Air Filters that Filter too Much

 

When choosing an air filter for your home, there are many options available on the market. Some homeowners desire “cleaner” air, causing them to purchase filters with higher MERV ratings. MERV, or Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, is a score ranging from one to 20 that rates the effectiveness of the filter. A score of one represents a filter that catches large airborne particles, whereas a score of 20 catches the smallest of particles. Thin filters with higher MERV ratings can prevent air from flowing through the filter, changing the air pressure in your ventilation system. Irregular air pressure can cause your HVAC system to overwork, ultimately damaging the unit and raising energy costs. In addition to this, thin filters with high MERV ratings are easily saturated and overworked by pollutants. Simply put, poor air flow caused by filters with high MERV ratings can waste energy and negatively affect the performance of your system. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t purchase a high MERV filter! In order to avoid these issues, you can purchase a high MERV filter that is about four to five inches thick and has a higher surface area for airflow. Thick filters can hold more dust and are not overworked as easily as thin filters. Most thick filters can last anywhere from six months to a year This reduces your costs of replacing the filters and lowers energy expenditure.

We’re here to Help

Learn more about how to preserve your air quality and the performance of your HVAC system by speaking with one of our friendly representatives about ACE’s air filters, cleaners, and purifiers. Our staff is educated and prepared to help you find the right filter for your home! Contact us today at (602) 428-3341 !

 

Air Conditioning Preventative Maintenance by Choosing the Right Air Filter

The performance of your A/C is directly related to your air filter. A dirty air filter can prevent cool air from reaching your home, and cause your unit to experience costly breakdowns. Clean air filters can help your unit perform efficiently and effectively, and improve your homes air quality by providing a clean living environment. During seasons of high usage, such as the summertime, you want to replace your air filter about every month. At the very least, you should replace your filter every six months. When it comes to air filters, you are paying for quality. Make sure to purchase a quality filter, so that you can reap the most benefits from your decision.

ACE Home Services Phoenix - air filter

5 Most Common Types of Air Filters

Electronic Air Cleaner Filters

These filters are great at eliminating pollen, mold spores, small particles, and airborne viruses. They use an electric field that has been ionized to attract pollutants and particles.

Washable, Electrostatic Filters

These filters have a static charge, hence the name “electrostatic”. This charge attracts dust, dirt, large particles, and other pollutants. These filters are more effective than disposable filters but do not block out smaller particles.

Pleated, Allergy Filters

Made of dense, mesh-like materials, these filters excel in eliminating larger allergens, such as pollen or mold.

Disposable Fiberglass Filters

These are the least expensive type of air filter, which is only designed to eliminate large dust particles. They are not good at filtering small particles or allergens.

HEPA Furnace Filters

Considered the “gold standard” of air filters, these filters provide the highest filtration technology available. These filters are often used in hospitals, or other commercial industries, where clean air is vital.

Not sure which filter is right for your home? Contact ACE Home Services today to schedule a bi-annual HVAC tune-up and we’ll fit the right filter into your unit!

 

What is the Best AC Filter for My Home?

Changing air filters regularly is an important part of HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) maintenance. Without a clean AC filter, the efficiency of your HVAC system can be greatly reduced, and you may even suffer from problems from allergens like excessive dust, pollen, and more.

Unfortunately, many people don’t change their AC filters often enough in Phoenix, even though they know they should. This may be because there are a lot of AC filter types, and it can be incredibly confusing and difficult to pick the best HVAC filters for your home.

With a few pointers, however, anyone can become adept at making good choices about AC filters, based on their AC unit and environment. Here’s what you need to keep in mind.

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When to Replace an AC Filter

Most AC filters should be replaced at least four times a year, but can be replaced as often as every month, depending on the filter type. Filters that have become clogged are ineffective and should be replaced, regardless of their age. HVAC system filters are helpful in keeping the air in your home cleaner because they remove small particles of dust and other allergens from the air as it passes through the system. Keeping your HVAC filters clean helps improve your indoor air quality, while also helping to maintain proper functioning of your HVAC system, no matter the season.

Different Types of AC Filters

There are several different kinds of AC filters, each with different filtering capabilities. The four basic types of filters are mechanical filters, pleated filters, electrostatic filters, and HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters.

Mechanical filters use threadlike materials to capture tiny particles of dust and other debris. Mechanical filters may contain charcoal to remove contaminants from the air inside your home. They are disposable and should be replaced at least four times every year.

Pleated filters are more effective than mechanical filters, removing about 40% of the small fragments in the air in your home. These filters are made with a crimped (pleated) material and are generally more expensive than their mechanical counterparts; they should be changed at least four times a year.

Electrostatic AC filters work by employing static electricity to attract particles from the air, and can even help prevent odors from common sources like pets, mildew, smoke, and mold. These can last as long as six months without being cleaned, and have the ability to remove as much as 90% of airborne pollutants from indoor air. 

A HEPA filter for your AC unit can remove nearly all the airborne pollutants from your home, with up to 99.97% effectiveness on particles 0.3 micrometers or larger. A micrometer is about the thickness of a strand of your hair. HEPA filters for your HVAC system can even be crimped or pleated to increase the surface area for catching pollutants. They’re so effective that they’re the go-to filters for hospital HVAC systems.

Getting a Professional Opinion

At ACE Home Services, we’ll be glad to help you choose the best HVAC filter for your home. If you run into problems, we’re standing by to help, 24 hours a day, every day of the week. There are no extra changes for overtime, nights, or holidays, and we proudly offer free service calls.

No matter the problem, our knowledgeable professionals are ready to help you stay cool, even on the hottest day. Contact us today for your next AC service in Phoenix!

 

Which Air Filter is Right for My A/C?

Choosing the right air filter for your air conditioning system can be difficult. There are many different makes available on the market today. So how do you know which filter is right for you? A lot of your decision will depend on the individual needs of your home and your personal preferences. For example, if you are looking for something that will provide superior indoor air quality, you should look for an air filter that is designed for maximum filtration. These filters tend to be more expensive, so they may not be a good fit if you are on a tight budget. That being said, there are many filters that are affordable and effective. Keep reading to learn about the three main types of air filters so that you can make the right decision on which air filter is right for you.

Choosing the Right HVAC Air Filter

Below are three of the most common types of air filters used in HVAC systems. If you have further questions, please contact us directly to speak with an HVAC specialist.

Basic Air Filters

 

 

Basic air filters are usually made of fiberglass or polyester. On average, they are about one to two inches thick. These filters are the most common and offer minimum filtration. They filter out large particles and help protect your air conditioning system, but do not have a significant impact on indoor air quality.

Pros:

readily available

inexpensive

easy to replace

Cons:

need to be replaced often

don’t improve indoor air quality

Air Filter Pads with Frames

 

 

There are air filters with metal frames and replaceable filter pads. These are designed to offer the same amount of protection as a basic air filter. They are normally cheaper to replace. These filters are normally made of polyester and about one-inch thick. 

Pros:

inexpensive

easy to replace

adjustable size

Cons:

need to be replaced regularly

doesn’t filter small particles well

Pleated Air Filters

 

Pleated air filters are designed to have more surface area than basic filters. This means that they last longer and don’t need to be replaced as often. In addition to this, they are also able to capture more particles and provide more filtration. Pleated air filters range anywhere from one to five inches thick. They are made of fiberglass, polyester, and synthetic material.

Pros:

can last up to 12 months

capture more pollutants

capture smaller particles

available in many different sizes

Cons:

more expensive

may need to modify ductwork to fit

For All Things HVAC, Contact ACE

Whether you need a tune-up or completely new HVAC system, ACE Home Services has you covered. Simply click here to schedule a service call or call us directly at (602) 428-3341 .

 

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