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If the air conditioner is the beating heart of your home, the air filters are like the lungs because they clean the air circulated throughout your home. Air filters protect you and your system from dust, debris, and other contaminants. As the air filters get dirty and clogged, it is important to change them before they cause damage to your health and your system.
Your Melbourne air conditioner likely worked overtime last month, and your energy bills have been increasing because of something you might be overlooking: the air filters. Unfortunately, a lot of people out there have never changed their AC filters in a long time and might have no idea they’re simply wasting money and damaging their units. Old, dirty filters restrict airflow and make the unit work harder and longer, leading to skyrocketing energy bills and costly repairs.
The need to change your AC filter is already established, but it comes even more crucial for people with pets, compromised respiratory systems, and the elderly who spend all day indoors. The most effective way to ensure you’re breathing clean air is to change air filters at proper intervals, which is once every 1-2 months.
Read More: How Often Should You Change Your AC Filter?
When To Know It’s Time To Change Your AC Filter
It is hard to believe that a small device such as a filter could make a big difference in the quality of the air you breathe, but it does. If you neglect to change the air con Melbourne filter for some time, you’d find all the dirt and grime on the floors, surfaces, bathrooms, counters, and beds. As filters aren’t designed to trap airborne particles forever, they no longer screen the air after some time. So, here are 6 common signs that indicate it’s time to replace your air conditioner filter:
SIGN #1: Malfunctioning of AC System
A common sign of excessively dirty filters is a malfunctioning of the air conditioner, such as overheating. AC blowing hot or warm air or ice freezing on the coils is usually because of clogged air filters. All these problems first lead to minor malfunctioning and then an expensive repair. In some cases, the unit breaks without many warning signs because moisture damages sensitive components of the unit.
SIGN #2: Increase In Allergy Symptoms
Ideally, an air conditioner should circulate clean air that positively affects your health and not destroy it. If the peak pollen season has passed and you’re still suffering from allergies, it might have something to do with dirty air filters in your home. It is because the filter becomes saturated with dust, pollen, pet dander, mould spores, and other airborne particles, which are then circulated throughout the home. That’s why experts recommend people with allergies and asthma be more cautious when changing air filters.
SIGN #3: Failed To Pass The White Sheet Test
One way to determine whether the air filters of your cooling unit need changing is by a white sheet test. Take a white sheet and hang it at least 5 inches away from the ducts. Leave it there for about an hour or two. If the white sheet turns gray, it indicates you need to change the filters as soon as possible.
SIGN #4: Accumulation of Dirt Near The Vents
One of the apparent signs of a clogged air filter is the build-up of dirt near or around the air vents. It is because a clogged filter starts to disperse the dust and dirt into the unit, which then starts to build up near the air vents. Although dust around the air vents does not necessarily mean that you have a clogged air filter, you still need to check it out.
SIGN #5: Increase In Electricity Bills
The peak summertime in Melbourne requires homeowners to rely on the air conditioning a lot more than usual, but it doesn’t mean that they have to pay really high energy bills. So, if your electricity bill spiked up for no obvious reason, the culprit could be clogged air filters that make your air con work harder than normal. Another reason to replace dirty air filters with new ones is that an air conditioner uses 5% to 15% less energy when the air filters are not disrupting airflow.
Read this to know more about how much does it cost to run an air conditioner in Melbourne. If it costs you a lot more, it means there could be due to clogged air filters or an issue with the system.
SIGN #6: It Smells Musty
Your air conditioner can blow a musty smell throughout the home because air filters capture tiny particles that gather in the filters over time and promote the growth of mould and mildew when exposed to moisture. So, one of the primary reasons behind the musty smell are clogged air filters that have become an ideal breeding ground for mould.
Read More: 5 Common Reasons Why Your Air Conditioner Smells Bad.
When To Change AC Filters
As a general rule of thumb, it is always best to change AC filters once in 1-2 months. You can change them sooner if you have asthma, allergies or pets in the house. It is important to understand that the cost of replacing AC filters is minimal to what you’ll spend on your health if you get sick. Given that Australians spend about 90% of their time indoors, changing air filters once in 30-60 days should be your priority.
Get Professional Help
You can easily change the air filter without hiring a professional. However, in case changing the air filter doesn’t solve the signs mentioned above, you need to hire a certified HVAC professional. ComfyHome offers complete air conditioning installation, service, and replacement services in Melbourne. With decades of experience and thousands of satisfied customers, we can confidently offer our services to you. Contact Us today to know more about us.