You have many guests and/or pets
And the more contaminants floating around in your home, the faster your filter gets dirty. What to do: Consider investing in a whole home air filtration system. These advanced filtration systems pick up the contaminants left behind by guests and pets but also have a long service life.
Yes you can but, blow it out from the inside of the air filter all the way around and it will work for at least another six months under normal conditions. Next time you should replace it with a good quality filter.
Spray the filter with Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner and let it soak. Rinse. Using a faucet or garden hose, rinse the filter from both sides, starting from the interior towards the exterior to prevent pushing dirt further into the fibers of the filter. Avoid wringing or stretching the filter – they can tear easily.
As a general rule, you should clean your air conditioner filters within the indoor unit every two weeks. In more dusty or polluted environments you should clean your filters more regularly. Cleaning your filters is the most important maintenance task you can do to care for your air conditioner.
Dirty filters can cause many problems, from decreased efficiency to ice build-up. But even if those things don't happen, the debris can still damage the delicate components of your AC unit over time. This will lead to premature wear and tear, which can shorten the lifespan of your system.
The filter looks dirty: This is simple but effective – look at your air filter. If it looks dirty, dusty, or has clumps of hair and dust, it's time to change it.
If your AC isn't cooling your space as effectively as it once did, or if the airflow seems weaker, a dirty filter could be the culprit. Cleaning it could bring back your AC's cooling power.
If you see any build up or dust on the air conditioner filter, it's time to clean it. If your central air filter shows no signs of grime buildup, you can use the hose attachment from your vacuum cleaner or use a handheld vacuum to remove any debris.
How Often Do I Need to Change Out My Air Filter? Generally, most air filter manufacturers and HVAC companies recommend changing your air filter every 90 days, or 3 months. That can change based on where your home is located (ex. dusty, dry climates), if you have any pets, and the age of your system and equipment.
Black Soot Deposition
Black soot can quickly turn our air filters black. This is usually a result of burning candles. Candles are made of carbon-based materials that don't all combust when burned. They end up producing tiny soot particles which then get into our carpet, on our furniture, and in our air filters.
Soil, sand, chemicals, and germs can enter your home from cracks in the doors and windows or from your clothes, shoes, and pets. While dusting is an easy chore to forget, a buildup of dust on surfaces can make your home look dirtier and affect your overall air quality and well-being.
Wash the Filter with Vinegar and Water
Let the filter soak for approximately one hour, then rinse with clean water. If the filter is too large to fit inside a sink or bucket, use a garden hose to wash it off, letting the water run through the filter in the opposite direction of the airflow.
Reusable filters can be washed and replaced. However, the disposable filters you use in your HVAC system aren't made to shed water after they get wet. The moisture the filter retains can encourage mold growth over time, and your HVAC system might spread the mold spores throughout the rest of your home.
"There should be gray, ashy-looking material on the duct side of the filter."
There's no need to run out to the store and buy disposable air filters and furnace filters. A washable filter, because of its plastic-like material, might last up to five years, whereas a household might go through 60 or more non-washable filters in that same amount of time.
The short answer: You can get away with running your AC without a filter for a short period of time. However, doing so for longer than 6-8 hours can hurt your system and decrease your home's indoor air quality.
When you leave an AC unit's air filter clogged for too long, you can experience a failure of the entire system. This is because the unit can only work for so long at twice the power before it finally breaks down.
If you don't change your air filter, it can quickly become clogged with dust and debris, preventing proper air filtration. This leads to a variety of issues for your HVAC system including system inefficiency, higher energy bills, inadequate air quality, and ultimately failure.
Cheaper filters, like fiberglass ones, can clog faster than higher-quality options like pleated or HEPA filters. Extreme weather can make your HVAC system work harder, leading to faster filter buildup. Neglecting filter maintenance, like not changing or cleaning regularly, can cause blockages and poor air quality.
A clogged filter disrupts the airflow and is the primary reason behind the accumulation of dirt, dust, and other particles on sensitive components of the unit. Frost buildup on fans, coils, and other parts starts to prevent the unit from providing the expected comfort level.