With the high summer temperatures, air conditioning becomes one of the most used appliances in homes. However, many people try to save by adjusting the temperature or limiting the hours of use, but they overlook an equally important aspect: filter maintenance.
Although it may seem like a minor task, keeping them clean helps the appliance work more efficiently, reduce electricity consumption and provide better quality air. In addition, it prevents some of its components from working more than necessary and suffering from premature wear.
Daury Ramírez, an expert in air conditioning, has spoken about this in a video on his YouTube channel, where he issues a clear warning: “If you do not clean the filters, the air conditioning consumes more, the equipment lasts less and affects your health.” As he explains, it is a simple operation that anyone can perform at home and that can delay the need for professional maintenance for several weeks.
Why dirty filters can harm our health, consume more and reduce the useful life of the device
The specialist explains that the dirt accumulated in the filters has three main consequences. The first directly affects the air we breathe. As he summarizes in his video, the problem begins with “breathing through dust”, since the particles retained in the filters circulate again throughout the room when the device is in operation.
The second has an impact on the team itself. When filters are clogged, airflow decreases and the system needs to work harder to reach the desired temperature. This extra effort falls on the compressor, one of the most important components of the device, which can accelerate its wear and reduce the useful life of the air conditioner.
Finally, Ramírez remembers that energy consumption increases significantly when the equipment operates with filters full of dirt. By having to work harder to cool the room, the device needs more electricity to achieve the same result, something that ends up being noticeable on the electricity bill.
How to clean air conditioning filters in a simple way to keep the equipment in good condition
The expert insists that cleaning the filters is a much simpler task than many people believe and recommends doing it periodically to keep the equipment in good condition.
To do this, simply open the front cover of the indoor unit and remove the filters carefully, following the guides on the device itself. Once removed, it is advisable to remove the dust by applying light pressure or air from the back to the front of the filter. In this way, the dirt comes out more easily and does not become even more embedded in the mesh.
Then you just have to put them back in their original position. During this step, he recommends paying special attention to the small plastic tabs or hooks, since they are the most delicate part of the assembly and can break if forced when fitting them. Once installed again, the air conditioner will be ready to operate normally.
How often should you clean the air conditioning filters?
The frequency will depend on the use that the device receives and the conditions of the home. However, checking the filters periodically during the months of greatest use helps maintain good performance, prevents dirt from accumulating excessively and helps the air conditioning work more efficiently.
If the air conditioner is left on for several hours a day, cleaning it every few weeks is usually sufficient. In homes with pets, in areas with a lot of dust or during periods of intensive use, it may be advisable to check the filters more frequently to prevent them from losing effectiveness.
In any case, the specialist remembers that this domestic cleaning does not replace professional maintenance, but it does allow the interval between inspections to be extended for one or two months when it is not possible to carry out a complete tune-up. A check carried out by a technician also allows you to check the condition of other components of the equipment and detect possible breakdowns before they become a major problem.
In short, spending a few minutes on this simple task can translate into less electricity consumption, a longer useful life of the equipment and cleaner air inside the home, especially during the summer months, when the air conditioning works more intensely.
If you want to read more articles similar to Daury Ramirez, air conditioning technician: “If you don’t clean the filters, the air conditioning consumes more, the equipment lasts less and affects your health”, we recommend that you enter our Energy Savings category.
