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.