One of the tasks relating to air conditioners that those who own them dread most is cleaning the filters. Firstly, not every person realizes that cleaning an air conditioner’s filters is essential for them to operate correctly. Beyond this, some know the filters must be cleaned but are unsure how to do so. Based on advice from the Perth Air Con Experts, we have compiled a guide to help you in the process of cleaning your air conditioner filter.
Why Should You Clean Air Conditioning Filters
There are several reasons why air conditioning filters should be cleaned regularly, and more importantly, several issues that can occur if they are not.
- Air Quality: Regular cleaning of the filters ensures that the air expelled by your air conditioner is high quality and thus healthier for those who live with you. Dirty filters mean that allergens, dust, and dirt can accumulate, which can tell people with low incomes that contaminated air circulating in the home can trigger or accelerate respiratory ailments and allergies.
- Improved Comfort: Cleaning filters mean fresh, cool air circulates more easily within the home. A dirty filter can impede this, meaning temperatures are not cooled as they should be, making your home less comfortable.
- Better Energy Efficiency: Clean filters mean your air conditioning unit works at maximum efficiency, thus lowering your energy bills. Conversely, dirty filters mean air conditioning has to work harder to circulate air, leading to poor efficiency and higher energy bills.
How To Clean Air Conditioner Filters
Before we start, it is evident that there are many air conditioner brands, most of which manufacture various air conditioning units. This means the first task to undertake is reading the manufacturer’s instructions for your air conditioning unit to check whether there are any specific safety precautions that you need to take before cleaning the filters. Here is a guide to cleaning air conditioning filters that should cover most, possibly not all.
Turn Your Air Conditioner Off: It might seem obvious, but you would be amazed at how many people start this task and either injure themselves or damage their air conditioning unit because they left it on while cleaning the filters. If your air conditioning is wired through an individual breaker, switch this off as an extra precaution.
Check The Manufacturer’s Cleaning Instructions: We have already mentioned referring to the manufacturer’s manual for safety specifics, and here you are going to refer to it for any specific steps relating to the cleaning of the filters.
Remove The Filters: The third step is to remove the filters from the air conditioning unit. In most departments, these should be easy to access, and their removal should be relatively straightforward. However, do not try to force them out with excessive force if they are reluctant to come away from their housing.
Inspect The Filters: This will determine if they need to be cleaned or replaced depending on their condition. If the filters are damaged or look like they have ended their lifespan, replace them. Otherwise, continue to the cleaning stage.
Clean The Filters: Several methods can be employed here, with the first either to brush the filters or, if you have a suitable vacuum cleaner, you could vacuum the filters to remove any accumulated dust and dirt. Next, per the manufacturer’s guidelines, you can wash and rinse the filters with clean water.
Dry The Filters: Replacing the filters while they are still wet can encourage mould, so the final step before replacing the filters in the air conditioning unit is to ensure they are scorched. Drying should take no more than around 30 minutes.
