Regular maintenance can improve the efficiency and longevity of an air conditioning system. These systems are often highly complex with numerous components that need to be checked, cleaned, and possibly replaced on a regular basis. One of the simplest, yet most important parts of an air conditioning system is the air filter. Filters are inexpensive and cleaning or replacing them takes only a few minutes. However, failing to clean or replace them regularly can lead to a loss of efficiency and higher-than-necessary energy bills. How can a simple filter clean/change boost your air conditioning system’s energy efficiency?
Air Flow Reduction
As the filter gets clogged, the evaporator coils are starved of air and therefore freezing up can occur slowly. Eventually, almost no air comes from the air vents. At the first stages of this problem, the majority of air conditioner owners simply increase their fan speed or set a lower temperature in order to get the same results as before. Accordingly, the system starts working harder, using up more power and increasing your energy bills. The longer the problem remains, the less output you get from the system while paying more money for unnecessary power consumption.
Frozen Coils
When the airflow is reduced due to a clogged filter, the refrigerant inside the cooling system drops to excessively low temperatures due to the lack of airflow. Moisture in the air settles on the coils and freezes. Eventually, the air conditioning unit turns into a block of ice. Even if an engineer catches the problem quickly, you will have to wait for the ice to melt to start servicing the unit. If the system is not a heat pump this could put your system out of action for days.
Air Quality
As the filter becomes more and more clogged, the air quality in your facility goes down. The air conditioner continues to circulate dirty air, potentially causing respiratory problems for people in the building. There could also be knock-on effects for other equipment in the building, such as air purifiers, humidifiers, and machinery.
Overheating
Something as simple as a dirty air filter, which usually costs less than £100, could lead to a huge repair bill if your system overheats. This could lead to one or more components short circuiting, shutting your air conditioning down, putting your building’s electrical wiring at risk and even starting a fire if you’re unlucky.
Get In Touch
Keeping your filters clean and replacing them at regular intervals is the easiest and cheapest way to keep your running costs down and avoid unpleasant repair bills. At ACE Services, we provide all types of service for your air conditioning system, including filter replacement. Give us a call today for a free quote.
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