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Your HVAC System Needs Air!

coppervalleyac
Comparing a dirty air filter versus a new air filter
Dirty Versus Clean Air Filter

Picture yourself sprinting a mile at full speed. How do you feel? Exhausted, weak, and perhaps gasping for air (myself included)? Imagine doing this while wearing a mask covered in dirt and debris, making it even more difficult to breathe. Your climate control system (HVAC System) works hard to keep you cool in the Summer and Warm in the winter. Your system is running a marathon and requires clean, unobstructed air to function properly, just like you do. When the air filter of your climate control system becomes dirty, its efficiency decreases, and the operational strain increases, leading to higher energy costs and more wear and tear on the system itself.


Recently, a tenant from a condo contacted me regarding a "No Heat" issue. They had moved in earlier that summer and hadn't experienced any cooling problems. During a stretch of pleasant weather, they didn't use the system until it got cooler and they attempted to turn on the heat, but nothing happened. Their system was a central gas package unit located two stories up on their neighbor's rooftop. I would need a ladder to reach the first-story rooftop, then another ladder to access the second story. Fortunately, my training and experience suggested checking the "easy" stuff before using the ladders. The thermostat was my first stop. After replacing the batteries and testing it for a few minutes, it was confirmed to be functioning well (faulty thermostats can cause your system to stop working properly, but that's for another blog). Next, I checked the air filter. When I asked the tenant if they had recently changed it, they looked at me in confusion. They hadn't changed it, they didn't even know where it was located, despite having lived in the condo for over six months. It took 20 minutes of watching the tenant search high and low throughout the whole apartment, before we found it, hidden behind an large old recliner. The recliner was pushed against the wall, completely blocking the vent from view. Upon finding it, the tenant remarked, "Oh, that vent, my kids would try to open it, so I put the chair there to block it." If you're familiar with regularly cleaning a clothes dryer filter, you can imagine the state of this air filter. Picture a 1 inch think perfectly formed rectangular layer of grey lint with spec of debris throughout. The air filter was covered in so much packed dust and debris that you couldn't even see the air filter at all. Needless to say, after replacing the filter with a new one, the system fired right up and begin working perfectly. This simple little air filter single handedly stopped the entire system.


Some air filters are located on a wall
Air Filter Located on the Wall

Everyone has an air filter, regardless of your location. If you haven't replaced yours yet, pause your activities immediately, locate the filter, and replace it! I cannot emphasize enough how simple this task is and how often neglecting it results in a service call for a non-functional system. Check the ceiling for the air filter (if you can't find it behind that old recliner). Check the hall way for a extra large vent. I guarantee there is a place for your air filter somewhere in your home.


If you have a rooftop package HVAC unit, your air filter may be located in the ceiling
Ceiling Mounted Air FIlter

Tips and suggestions


  • You don't have to spend a fortune on air filters. In fact, depending on your system, some more expensive filters can actually restrict airflow significantly. In my opinion, stick with the mid-grade filters. They offer good allergen protection and overall air quality, while allowing your system to breath.

  • Change your air filter AT THE LEAST, every three months.

  • Use a sharpie to write on the side of the filter, the date you are installing the filter, to help remind you when to change it.

  • If you have pets, take a look at your air filter once a month. You may not have to change it but if you have extra furry pets and see that its considerably dirty, CHANGE IT. If it looks clean, then wait until next month, but remember to change it by the end of the third month past your installation date.

  • Look closely at the air filter. There is an arrow on the side of it. That arrow should be pointed in the direction of your air flow. Don't know the direction of your air flow ? Are your registers / ducts located above you or below you ? Point the arrow in the direction of your registers / duct work.

  • Get a qualified technician to take a look at your system yearly. Once in the Summer and once in the winter. This will ensure that your system is operating correctly and any potential problems are discovered and resolved before they become huge issues.


What happens if you don't replace the air filter regularly ?


  • If you let your system operate without ever changing the air filter, its going to put an enormous strain on all the components of the system and eventually stop working altogether. Overheating components can cause significant damage and high repair bills.

  • You may be allowing excessive debris to be caught in the evaporative coil of your system. You also allow these debris to accumulate on the blower assembly. This can cause premature failure for these components, and can get expensive.

  • The dirt, allergens and dust in the air inside your home could accumulate in the duct work, and decrease the air quality in your home. This could lead to an increased chance of developing or agitating existing heath issues.


Changing your air filter is the easiest maintenance you can do to help your system maintain its efficiency and overall performance year after year. However, neglecting to change your air filter regularly can be one of the most damaging things to put your system through. Not only will you system starve for air, but the strain caused on all the components of the system will increase the chances of premature component failure that may ultimately lead to its demise.


Still have questions ? Have a suggestion for a blog ? Contact us through email at coppervalleyac@gmail.com or give us a call at 520-486-0276. We are always ready to help you with all your Cooling, Heating and Electrical needs.

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