How an Air Filter Can Change Your Life – and Help Heal the Planet

Your air conditioner relies on an air filter to help clean the air it circulates throughout your home. The air is drawn in through an intake and passed through an air filter before being cooled and released into your home. The purpose of the filter is to remove contaminants from the air – pollen, dust and other tiny particles that can make the air in your home more difficult to breathe.

Unfortunately, not all air conditioner filters perform that job effectively. In fact, the EPA estimates that the average indoor air quality is more likely to be in the unhealthy ranges than the typical outdoor air quality. The fact is, a dirty air filter could be making you sick. The air filter collects dust, dirt, debris, pollen and other particulates and stores them in a dark, moist environment – just the type of environment that bacteria loves for breeding.

So What's the Solution?

The solution is to change your air conditioner filters frequently so that the contaminants don’t become breeding grounds for bacteria. This, however, presents its own problems. Most homeowners use disposable fiberglass filters in their air conditioners. If they’re changed as frequently as they should be to keep your home healthy, the typical homeowner will rack up a considerable amount of cost replacing air conditioner filters over the course of a few years. In order to reduce the cost, many homeowners put off changing the air filter in their air conditioner as long as possible before finally giving in.

In addition, disposable air filters aren’t very kind to the environment. All those disposable filters build up in landfills – and since fiberglass, the most common material for air conditioner filters – is not biodegradable, they sit there forever. That’s not even taking into account all the natural resources that go into making them in the first place. When you add it all up, these filters cost everyone a lot.

Save Money With Washabale Air Filters

There is a solution, however. A number of companies now make washable air filters and reusable air filters that fit nearly every brand and make of air conditioner made. A washable air filter can be more efficient than a disposable one, and while they cost more up front, will save the homeowner money over time. Best of all, because you only buy one and use it over and over, you reduce the amount of stress you place on the planet when you choose a reusable air filter instead of a disposable one.

Save Money with a Washable Air Filter

How often to you change the air filter in your air conditioner or furnace? The Health Journal Online notes that you should change your air filter as often as needed to keep it clean. If your air conditioner or furnace is running every day, you may need to change it as often as once a month.

Why Do You Need to Change the Air Filter?

The air filter in your air conditioner or furnace removes dust, allergens and other small particles from the air as it passes through your heating or air conditioning system. The dirt, dust, pollen and other debris accumulate in the folds of the air filter where bacteria can breed. A dirty air filter will reduce the efficiency of your air conditioner or heater, and can become a breeding ground for disease. Changing the air filter frequently reduces your energy bills, increases the efficiency of your heating and cooling systems and provides a healthier atmosphere.

Why Should You Choose A Reusable Air Filter?

While most homeowners use disposable air filters for their air conditioners and furnaces, a washable air filter can save you a considerable amount of money over time – and provide a number of other benefits. A washable air filter may be more expensive up front, but it’s a one-time expense. You’ll recoup the difference in cost between a reusable air filter and a disposable one within a few months.

In addition, a washable air filter is a greener choice than one you throw away. When you choose a reusable air filter for your air conditioner or furnace, you’ll be keeping dozens of air filters out of the waste stream over the course of time. You’ll also be using far fewer materials over the course of time – it takes a lot more natural resources to produce dozens of disposable filters than it takes to produce just one washable filter.

Finally, cleaning a reusable air filter is no more difficult than changing a disposable air filter. In most cases, you just take it out of the air conditioner or furnace unit, hose it down with clear water and put it back in place when it’s dry. Many homeowners choose to buy two reusable filters so they can always have a clean one handy when it’s time to change out the old one.