I checked the air conditioner filter for a friend. There was enough lint to knit a sweater… for a really large person.
The problems with dirty air conditioner filters.
A dirty air conditioner filter will kill the efficiency of your air conditioner and cause it to fail prematurely. In addition, the dust and dirt isn’t healthy, especially for people with allergies.
The problem is somewhat similar to when humidifiers get dirty.
Below is a filter that was a bit disgusting. The lint was definitely killing the performance of the unit and decreasing it’s life.
Cleaning your air conditioner’s filter is simple:
- Turn the unit off (and unplug it if you feel safer)
- The filter can be accessed by either sliding it out or popping open the cover.
- Remove the filter. Take note of how it is installed. You might want to do something like use a marker to mark the top right corner.
- Wash it, let it dry and replace it. HINT – Don’t wash the lint down your drain. Pull it off. You can also vacuum it before washing it.
- Make a note to check it in about a month or sooner if you are using it extensively.