Is a Dirty AC Filter Making You Sick? Amy Smith, August 11, 2022January 10, 2024 Is a Dirty AC Filter Making You Sick? Image Source: Freepik One of the easiest methods to be comfortable inside when the temperatures are rising is with air conditioning. Your air filter contains a lot of “material” that is floating around. Dust, fungal spores, potentially cigarette waste, dust, pet dander, and a long list of other things could be found under a microscope. When the heat increases too much, air conditioning might be a welcome relief, but it may make your allergy symptoms worse. It could not simply be flu season if you are coughing, sneezing, or feeling uncomfortable at home. These allergens can be gathered and stored in an air filter, which then allows them to flow around the home whenever the air conditioning is on. How Does a Filter Get Dirty? Over time, every air filter becomes contaminated. The presence of a filthy air filter is evident in the filter’s clogged-up condition. If they are kept in place for an extended amount of time, it becomes clogged. There is eventually a buildup of tiny particles and allergens, which limits the amount of airflow. The following typical pollutants are known to clog filters: Dirt Dust Pollen Pet dander and hair Vapors and other fumes Bacterial and viral Spores of molds Mold and fungus development may spread throughout your house when these toxins combine with the standing water in your air conditioner. Indications That the Dirty AC Air Filter Could Be Harmful to Your Health Poor airflow will arise from a clogged air filter. Because mildew is difficult to eradicate and can have long-term health consequences, this could encourage undesirable moisture to remain and spread. Here are some health issues due to clogged air filters: Breathing or respiratory issues: If you don’t replace your air conditioner filters frequently, bacteria and fungi may flourish there. Additionally, condensation-related moisture buildup in coils and ducts can result in black mold. It might result in infections, respiratory issues, or possibly Legionnaires’ disease. Heightened Blood Pressure: Our local climate has an impact on both our blood pressure and general health, according to Men’s Fitness and Health. To prevent the loss of body heat, the tiny vasculature in your skin contracts. In turn, this results in blood flow resistance and raises blood pressure. Nasal passages and dry skin: The skin loses its natural moisture in cold, dry air. Make sure you’re staying hydrated by drinking more water and using your chosen moisturizer to treat dry skin. The Value of Pure Air Filters 90% of the time is spent indoors by Americans on average. Thus, the quality of the air in your residence is a major consideration. Cleaning your air filter is the simplest approach to guarantee that the air moving in your area is healthy. Air filters stop unclean air from circulating by removing contaminants as air enters your cooling system. However, when filters are overly clogged, dirt, dust, and allergies have nowhere to go, and the cleanliness of your air is reduced. Reducing allergens within your home is easy with a fresh air filter installed at the origin of the cool air supply. We recommend using Custom Filters Direct to buy a pack of new air filters to fit your HVAC unit. Maintaining Your AC Filters Cleaning or replacing your air conditioner’s filters on a regular basis is the most crucial maintenance chore you can perform to guarantee its efficiency. The amount of airflow is decreased, and a system’s efficiency is considerably decreased by clogged, dirty filters. It is possible to reduce energy use by 5% to 15% by replacing a filthy, obstructed filter with a healthy one. During the cooling season, you should clean or replace the filters in your AC system every month or two. Conclusion Filtration can help with both source control and ventilation. Understanding the significance of cleaning and the appropriate size of your AC filters is crucial if you want to attain the optimal indoor air quality in your home. Please feel free to reach a household air filters provider, like Custom Filters Direct, if you want to make a custom AC air filter for your home, don’t know how to clean a dirty AC air filter, or want to buy an AC filter online, or are having problems with your AC filters sizes. Share on FacebookTweetFollow usSave For the Home Health blood pressureclogged AC air filterdirty AC air filterdry skinhealth problemsnasal passagespoor airflowrespiratory issues