{"id":421,"date":"2023-08-14T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-08-14T18:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/west.americoolonline.com\/blog\/?p=421"},"modified":"2023-08-15T09:36:01","modified_gmt":"2023-08-15T16:36:01","slug":"the-air-filter-your-acs-best-kept-secret","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/west.americoolonline.com\/blog\/air-conditioning-service\/the-air-filter-your-acs-best-kept-secret\/","title":{"rendered":"The Air Filter: Your AC\u2019s Best-Kept Secret"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-medium\"><a href=\"https:\/\/west.americoolonline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/technician.jpeg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/west.americoolonline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/technician-300x200.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-422\" srcset=\"https:\/\/west.americoolonline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/technician-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/west.americoolonline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/technician-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/west.americoolonline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/technician-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/west.americoolonline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/technician-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/west.americoolonline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/technician.jpeg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Did you know that there\u2019s a component in your air conditioner that works hard to filter the air you breathe? It\u2019s not necessarily designed for your personal comfort, but it surely helps with indoor air quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The air filter is important to the functionality of your air conditioning system, and it\u2019s the only component that we actually encourage customers to address and swap out on their own. That\u2019s right, you don\u2019t need the help of a professional for this kind of <a href=\"\/air-conditioning\/air-conditioning-repair\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">AC repair in Centralia, WA<\/a>\u2013you can do it all on your own!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Today, we\u2019re going to talk about why the air filter in your AC is so important, how easy it is to change out, and why you can always call us for support if you need help with this component.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How the Filter Works<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The filter works hard to keep dust, debris, and other contaminants out of the air conditioner\u2019s more sensitive components. It keeps the coils clean for a longer period of time, which results in a longer system lifespan and better energy efficiency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The trick with a filter is that it gets clogged up over a period of time. It\u2019s not designed to sit in there forever. Eventually, it\u2019s going to actually inhibit the job of your air conditioner by stopping the airflow and stifling the interior components. This is not good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Basically, the air filter is designed to be changed every 1-3 months, so that it can allow for maximum airflow while stopping the contaminants in their tracks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Changing the Filter<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>How do you change the filter? It\u2019s simple!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol>\n<li><strong>First, turn your system off. <\/strong>A filter shouldn\u2019t be changed while the system is running.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Locate the air filter in the return air duct. <\/strong>This can usually be found in the manual of your air conditioner, or by following the return air duct as it leads into your AC. You\u2019ll see a little flap, sometimes even with an arrow on it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Remove the air filter and evaluate the type. <\/strong>If the air filter is a disposable one, you\u2019ll want to replace it with a brand-new one. If it\u2019s reusable, you\u2019ll need to wipe it down with a damp cloth.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Put the new air filter in and turn the system on. <\/strong>Voila! That\u2019s basically it. Sure, every air conditioner will be a little bit different, so you might encounter some hiccups on your air filter journey. But it\u2019s usually this simple, and does a lot to help your system.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Next<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes, replacing the air filter can do a lot for the efficiency and power of your air conditioner. It can help stop a system from overheating, short cycling, or even growing ice on the coils. But it\u2019s not the only component in the system that sometimes needs attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you change your air filter out but you still are seeing some problems with your AC, then we urge you to schedule repairs at your earliest convenience. This might be a problem that requires a professional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong><a href=\"\/contact-us\/send-a-message\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Contact Americool Heating &amp; Air Conditioning. Your comfort is our business.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Today, we\u2019re going to talk about why the air filter in your AC is so important, how easy it is to change out, and why you can always call us for support if you need help with this component.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[70],"tags":[39,87],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/west.americoolonline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/421"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/west.americoolonline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/west.americoolonline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/west.americoolonline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/west.americoolonline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=421"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/west.americoolonline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/421\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":423,"href":"https:\/\/west.americoolonline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/421\/revisions\/423"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/west.americoolonline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=421"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/west.americoolonline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=421"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/west.americoolonline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=421"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}