With summer kicking into high gear and the weather heating up here in Olathe, your air conditioners are about to get a workout. If you haven't already, it's probably time to change out your A/C filter for the season!
Selecting the right filter can make a big difference in the performance of your air conditioner, not to mention your energy bill. Most modern air conditioners have filters that are relatively simple to replace, but there's more to switching out an A/C filter than just popping out the old one and slapping a new one in.
The first thing to do when it's time to replace your filter is to find out what kind of filter your air conditioner takes. The easiest way to do this is to find where the filter is on your A/C and pull it out. You can even take it with you when you go to the store, to make sure the new one matches up, because as well as needing the same dimensions, there are several different kinds of filters out there, from old-fashioned fiberglass filters to pleated filters and media filters. How often your A/C filter needs to be replaced will depend on everything from your usage habits to the type of filter that you use.
Different filters also have different ratings for how well they filter particles like dust and debris out of the air. These ratings are measured on the Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) scale. For residential air conditioners, filters are rated on a scale from 1-12. However, a higher-rated filter isn't always the best choice! Filters with higher MERV ratings filter out more particulate matter from the air, but they also force your air conditioner unit to work harder to push air through, which can cost you on your energy bill and also put an added strain on your A/C. For individuals who suffer from seasonal allergies or other conditions that benefit from a higher level of filtration, that may be an acceptable trade-off, while for others, a slightly lower MERV may save you money down the road without a noticeable difference in air quality.
Of course, the beginning of summer is also a great time for air conditioner tune-ups, so if you aren't sure what type of filter you need, or aren't sure if your air conditioner is currently loaded with the best filter for you, then the best thing to do is probably to call your friendly Olathe air conditioning service provider. At Davenport, we're happy to help you to figure out what filter is best for your air conditioner and your home, while also giving your A/C a full 25-point air conditioner tune-up to make sure that it's in tip-top shape for the summer!
Not everybody wants the hassle of finding the right filter, remembering to keep it changed out regularly, and all the other little odds and ends that go into regular air conditioner maintenance. That's why at Davenport Service Company, we offer a VIP maintenance agreement service that not only handles all that for you and includes seasonal furnace and air conditioner tune-ups, but also gets you discounts on repairs and equipment replacement and no extra charge for overtime or after-hours calls!
Davenport has been providing "Customer First" Olathe air conditioning service for more than thirty years, so we know air conditioners. If you need an air conditioner tune-up, or just need help picking out the right A/C filter, call our highly trained, certified technicians at 913-441-2222 today!
