It would be hard for most of us to imagine life without our heating units and air conditioners. After all, temperature control is a huge part of maintaining the comfort level of any indoor environment. Plus, many units – especially air conditioning units in particular – help to moderate other factors that can contribute to the comfort level of any given room, such as humidity.
In order to make sure that your unit works as well as it should and lasts as long as possible, it’s incredibly important to make sure you maintain it properly. While this naturally includes practices like making sure it’s regularly serviced by a professional, it’s important to note that there are many simple things that the owner of a given unit can do to make sure things keep running smoothly as well.
The Importance of Changing Your Air Filter
One of the simplest and most important things that a homeowner can do to help keep their air conditioning unit running well is make sure that they’re replacing the air filter often enough. Believe it or not, dirty air filters that have been allowed to become clogged are the number one leading cause of unit malfunction by a landslide.
However, flawless function of your unit isn’t the only benefit attached to making sure your air filter is always clean either. Cleaner air filters mean fewer allergens and toxins being released into the air you and your loved ones breathe. They also mean increased fuel efficiency and an engine life that will last up to twice as long as one attached to a unit with neglected filters.
Locating Your Air Filter
Of course, understanding that you need to change your air filter on a frequent basis and actually figuring out where to find it are two different animals. Let’s take a closer look at how you can locate yours.
Most air conditioning systems and furnaces have filters that are located inside the blower area of the unit. Alternatively, they may be found in the ceiling return air grille. Some furnaces and A/C units that are located in garage areas or inside closets may alternatively have filters located toward the bottom of the blower area.
The filter, once you locate it, is easy to recognize. It is screen-like in appearance and will be easily removed. You can obtain fresh filters easily and inexpensively at any store that has a home maintenance section. Keep a fresh supply on hand at all times and change your filter out frequently – at least once every few months.
