If your HVAC ductwork is dirty, you can be in line for a whole host load of problems. The main way, or really the only way, to keep your ductwork in proper order is to do adequate filter maintenance. If your filter is not functioning properly, you could get dirt, dust , pet hair, grime and whole bunch of different allergens sucked right up into your ductwork. The problems come, and especially if you live in an area that is already humid, when that humidity falls to a point where condensation can gather. You’ve heard all your local weathermen talk about that dewpoint. That’s when growth can occur and before long you’ll have bacteria and mold sprouting all over the place.

And if it’s a residential or commercial, typically more prevalent in the commercial environment, if it has had some form of acoustic lining or acoustical duct liner installed, you could really be in a world of hurt. These do nothing more than try to drown out the background noise coming from an HVAC system. Some of these will also add an extra layer of thermal insulation to your ductwork.

This is why you should be taking the appropriate measures to change out your air conditioner filters regularly and frequently. As an added little tidbit, if your filter ever gets wet due to the condensation gathering or falling on it from the ductwork, it should be changed immediately. This could lead to growth starting to actually occur on the filter as well and particles being distributed through your ductwork.

Cheap Air Filter

Cheap Air Filter

Another major factor, especially if you use those cheap air filters you get in a three-pack off the store shelf for $5.00, is that if these are left in the system to long, they are not strong enough to handle the air flow and will eventually collapse at the sides. In essence, the air filter gets sucked in. This lets the air bypass the filter media in the return air grill and flow straight through the ductwork back into the coils of the cooling system without any hindrance whatsoever. This could cause some serious damage not only in your ductwork but also to your air conditioning system and air quality in your home.

You should find every way available to make the job as easy as possible to change your air conditioning filter. One helpful little tip to guide you along the way is get some labels and permanent markers or sharpie’s. When you change out the filter, write on the label the type, size and date you changed the filter. Then stick this in a visible area on the return air grill so you can see it and as you pass by you’ll be able to visibly see the last time you changed the filter. And if you change filters, note the pressure drop to your ac system. Some people actually write this info on the filter but that tends to be a little useless as you won’t be able to see it.

Changing an air conditioner filter is a thankless job and nobody really wants to do it.

Add to that the location of your return air grill. If your return air grill is located in a not so desirable spot that tends to be a little hard to access, you can bet that you will be less likely to do the proper maintenance on it and will more than likely suffer from poorer air quality in your home and air ducts. Also, if the grill actually bolts to the wall or ceiling instead of using a quick-release type system that’s hinged, you’re likely to fall into the same category.

Above all, when changing an air conditioner filter, make sure you get the right size. Shop around and check out all the different performance ratings and specifications to see that you won’t suffer an issue of pressure drop throughout your system by installing an inadequate air filtration filter. You will be surprised at what you find but keep in mind that greater resistance will mean less air flow that could negatively impact not only your energy efficiency and monetary savings but the actual unit itself.

One great product we have found is the SmartFilter by ConversionAire. This filter takes all of these things into consideration. In fact it was designed by someone in the air filtration business in a hospital bed where he had nothing better to do than think of all the things wrong with the filtration industry today and put that thought into creating one of the best HVAC filters on the market.

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Filed under: HVAC Filter Maintenance

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