The air conditioning unit in your house is one of those things that you may only notice when it stops working. In order to keep from reaching this sort of impasse, or at least making it less likely to happen, you need to perform regular maintenance to make sure the internal parts are clean and in good working condition. The most basic maintenance you can perform is cleaning or replacing your air filter, and here we will cover several ways to do this, depending on the layout of your cooling system. With proper maintenance of your air filter, you will be able to save yourself a considerable amount of money and time spent sweltering in your uncooled home because you need to call in a repair service to fix it. (For window units, skip the following three steps and see the end of the article.) 1. Find out where the air filter is in your residence and remove it. Some may be located behind the main vent that lets out cool air into your house, in which case you may need to pull back a set of fasteners to remove the filter from its housing.

This vent is usually located by the thermostat. In other cases, the filter may be located in a slot in your furnace. Before removing the filter, make sure to turn the unit off for safety's sake. Furnace units that use larger media filters will have them behind a filter cap, a metal or plastic housing that can snap off by hand. Once you have found the filter, making sure no air is going to pass through the system while you work, remove it. 2. Identify your filter type. central ac units for sale in miamiFor all but the window unit, you will need to determine the type of filter and its dimensions before you buy a replacement.wall ac unit cleaning A fiberglass filter resembles a window screen with a larger frame. window ac units pros and cons

This is an older type of filter and needs to be replaced at least once a month. A pleated filter is rectangular and about an inch wide. It should be replaced at least every 90 days, but HVAC experts recommend 45 days. A media filter resembles a pleated filter, but is about four times as wide. It should be replaced every 6 to 8 months, but in some cases can last up to a year. 3. Install the filter. Once you have the correct unit for your air conditioner, slide it into place. There should be an arrow telling you which side to put it in first, and it is important that you follow this as the filters are designed to work this way. Put the filter cap back on or refasten the grate. It is now safe to have air flowing again. For window units, the filter will be found directly behind the place where the cool air comes out. Window air filters only need to be replaced about once a year, but they should be cleaned monthly, depending on how often you use the air conditioner. Turn off the unit and locate the filter.

Take it outside and gently but firmly knock it against a flat surface, which should release a good deal of collected dust. Take the damp cloth to the filter and lightly wipe it down. Allow it to air dry or dry it with a towel, as placing a wet item into any kind of electrical system is a bad idea. Put the filter back into your wall unit. It is now safe to use again. What IS an air filter anyway? An air filter is a vital part of your home’s forced air HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system. Most homes have at least two filters that stand guard over your home’s air; their specific job is to remove bacteria and harmful particles, regularly cleansing the air. Why are filters important? 100% of the air in your home passes through a filter, typically twice every hour. Since clean, quality air filters keep the air in your home fresh, the people inside stay healthier. A quality filter captures the harmful bacteria typically found in sneezes, coughs, viruses and molds, as well as pollutants like dust and car fumes.

Clean filters also keep your HVAC system healthy—they enable it to run more efficiently, keep repair costs to a minimum, and reduce monthly energy bills. About half of your monthly energy bill is attributed to HVAC, and keeping clean air filters is the single most effective way to improve HVAC efficiency. Clogged filters make the HVAC work harder as it conditions your home, which raises your energy bill. (And if there are no filters, the coils will clog, which is even worse for your system.) How often should I change filters? We recommend changing filters at least every 3 months, but every 1 to 2 months will usually serve you better (especially if you have a busy lifestyle, family with allergies, pets in the home, etc.). If you want help choosing the delivery schedule that fits your individual needs, just call or email. We’re here for you. Regular filter changes cut 5% - 10% off your energy bill every month according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Where are air filters located? Air filters can be found inside the return vents in your home. These returns might be on the ceiling, wall, or in the system itself. Most homes have 2 or 3 returns inside the house, or alternatively, two 5” filters that go within the HVAC system itself. Typically the inside returns are more accessible, which makes filter changes easier in these locations. What about different sizes? Filters for returns come in all sorts of sizes—one size rarely fits all, even within one house. Dimensions range from 10” x 10” to 30” x 36.” Most (but not all) filters are 1” thick but occasionally, homes will have 2”–5” thick filters. How do I determine filter size? Sizing filters is easy. If there is an old filter in the return, the size should be listed on the side of the filter. Remember that each home typically has different sizes throughout, so you’ll want to check sizes at every return. If there’s no filter within the return, simply measure the length and width of the space.