If you happen to own a York air conditioner, one of the things you might be interested in is how to make sure that it lasts as long as possible without having a degradation in its effectiveness. There are a number of ways of doing this, and one of these is by making sure that components such as the filters used for the device are kept in good condition. This is something that is usually very easy to take for granted, but it’s actually one of the components that you should not neglect. Making sure that it’s taken care of as necessary is very important.
What does the filter do?
The filters are usually membranes that are designed to trap any particles that are in the air before transmitting the air into the room. For instance, if there happens to be any particles such as dust and fungi in the air, the filters will then trap all these substances and get rid of them. This means that the air transmitted into the room will always be as clean as possible. This is why people who have health conditions such as asthma find it easier to stay in air conditioned rooms.
The fact that the filters get rid of all particulate matter from the air means that with time, they tend to get clogged up with such matter, and this in turn means that they become less effective. It is therefore important to have them replaced as soon as this happens.
Is it wise to wash them?
One of the strategies that one may think of is to simply get rid of the dirt within the filters by washing them. On the surface, this seems like a perfectly good idea. By washing it, you would be getting rid of all the material that is clogging the filter, and this in turn means that it will end up being more effective.
However, in practice, this is usually not possible. There are a few things that reduce the chances of this working including:
· The filters are not designed to be washed:
Most filters are very fragile, and exposing them to water will only lead to having them disintegrate. Even if you are very careful, the fact that the process of washing tends to damage the structure of the membrane means that if you put it back in the air conditioner, it will not work as well as it did in the past.
· It might not get rid of all the dirt within the filter:
The other fundamental problem is that simply washing the filter might not help in getting rid of the particulate matter within it. Remember, some of these particles are usually very small, and removing them from any surface usually requires a more thorough approach than simply a washing.
· It might make your filter less healthy:
Another potential problem associated with washing filters is the fact that sometimes, it can result in more harm than good. There are some bacteria that thrive in water, and soaking your air conditioner filter in water may give them room to proliferate. A disease that is particularly associated with this is legionnaire’s disease.
In summary, washing your air conditioner filters is not a good idea, and may actually do you more harm than good. The best way to handle an air conditioning problem of this kind is to simply buy the filters from a source you can trust. This way, you will be sure that whatever you are using to replace the filters currently in the air conditioner will end up cleaning the air more efficiently, and this in turn means that you will end up having a more reliable air conditioning service.
What if you want to save on costs?
The main reason why anyone would think of washing their air conditioner filters rather than getting new ones is due to the cost. There is a perception that air conditioner filters are very expensive, so replacing them on a regular basis does not seem feasible. However, the truth is that there is a lot you can do to end up getting high quality filters but without having to spend too much money. These include buying online as well as buying in bulk in order to take advantage of bulk purchase discounts.