How Can That One Little Thing Cause Such Big Problems? Why You Shouldn't Run Your AC Without A Clean Filter

When you're running your air conditioner all summer long, you want to make sure that you're doing everything possible to prevent problems. One step you can take to prevent problems is to switch your filter at least once during the summer – preferably at the beginning of the season. If you live in a particularly dusty or windy climate, you should actually change your filter once a month while you're running your air conditioner. If you've been in the habit of letting your filter get overly dirty, or removing it altogether from time to time, you're jeopardizing your air conditioner and your health. Here are three reasons why you need to make changing your filter a priority in your home.

Your Lungs Will Suffer

When you run your air conditioner, the filter helps remove dust particles and other pollutants from the air you're breathing. When you allow your air conditioner to run with a dirty filter, or no filter at all, you're allowing dirt, dust and other pollutants to flow right into your home, where you and your family will breathe them into your lungs. If you suffer from allergies, your symptoms will get much worse. If you don't suffer from allergies, you may experience allergy-like symptoms until you replace the filter. If it's been a while since you've replaced your filter, or you've been running your air conditioner without a filter, now's the time to add a new filter. It's also a good idea to run an air purifier to help remove the excess dirt particles from the air in your home.

Your Ducts Will Suffer

If you've been running your air conditioner without a filter this summer, your ducts are probably much dirtier than you'd expect. Unfortunately, dirty ducts can cause a wide variety of problems in your home. Dirty ducts will cause your home to be less energy efficient than it should be. Your dirty ducts will also leave your home with a dirty odor. On top of that, dirty ducts are the perfect place for pests to hide away. Not to mention the fact that you're breathing in particles from all the muck that's been gathering in the ducts. To eliminate the problem, install a new filter and have your ducts cleaned.

Your Condensate Drain Will Suffer

If your filter is dirty, or isn't there at all, there's probably some dirt accumulating on your condensate drain. If that's the case, your drain is going to get clogged, which is going to lead to some serious problems for you. You need the condensate drain to pull moisture from your home, which helps keep things cooler for you. Once your drain is clogged, the condensate tubes can't do their job correctly. Unfortunately, that means your home will get more humid and warm. Clear up the problem by replacing your filter and cleaning the condensate drain.

Don't let a bad filter destroy your air conditioner. Replace your filter at least once during the summer. If you're experiencing problems with your air conditioner, contact an air conditioning repair technician right away. They can cure the problems that are preventing you from staying cool this summer.