How Often Should You Change Your Air Conditioner Filter

There are some very important things that youwhat a good quality disposable filter would cost
should do to extend the life of your air conditionerbut you just wash them with water when they
and keep it working at peak efficiency at all times.become dirty and reuse them.Electronic filters will
One of the most important things that you cannever become dirty enough to effect airflow.
do is change your air conditioner or furnace filterThey just become inefficient and there ability to
every three to six months.Every home isremove dust from the air deteriorates as they
different and there are many factors that effectbecome dirty. To clean these filters you have to
how long you should wait between filter changes.remove the electronic cells and soak them in
Wait too long and the efficiency of the equipmentsome like HVAC cleaner and then rinse them and
will deteriorate and operating costs go up. Changelet them dry.HEPA filters are the most efficient
your filter too often and it's like throwing moneyfilters available and become plugged very quickly.
away. Considering the cost of some filters thatThey need to be checked monthly and often
could add up to a lot of money over time.It iscause too much restriction to airflow to be used
important to keep in mind that the more efficientat all. An air conditioner contractor will be able to
your air conditioner filter is the more often it willtell you if it is worth trying one of these in your
have to be cleaned or replaced. For most peoplesystem.If you are using economy panel filters
pleated filters will do an adequate job. Thesefrom your local hardware store and getting a
filters are ten to sixty percent efficient and somepack of four for five or ten dollars, you are not
manufacturers claim even higherdoing yourself, your family or your air conditioning
efficiencies.Pleated filters should be changed everyequipment any favours. When it comes to rating
three to six months. If you live in an area withfilters, these are at the bottom of the list.These
lots of dust then you should probably change yourfilters do such a poor job you could leave one in
filter about every three months.If you requireyour air conditioner for a year and it would not
more efficient air filtration you may want ancollect enough dust to require changing. The
electrostatic, electronic or even a HEPA filter. Theunfortunate thing is the evaporator coil of your air
more efficient the filter is the more often it willconditioner would need to be cleaned every year
have to be cleaned or replaced.Electrostatic filtersto remove the dirt that should have been
probably offer the best combination of value andstopped by the filter.
efficiency. You will pay between two to six times