The air filter in an air conditioning system keeps the cooling coils and air inside the room clean and free from all pollutants, pet dander, ozone emissions and airborne particles.

There are many different kinds of air filters available today, such as HEPA, standard, pleated, electrostatic and electronic filters. Of these, standard, pleated and electrostatic filters are the most common types of filters that are used in air conditioners. Generally these filters are located in walls, ceilings, furnaces, or in the air conditioner itself.

Standard Air Filters, having the capacity of removing 10 percent of the airborne pollutants, are made of spun fiberglass with cardboard frames. They should be changed once a month.

Pleated Air Filters catch around 35% to 40% of the particles in the air. Owing to their greater surface area with filter material folded back and forth like a paper fan, manufacturers claim that they can last from two to four months. The cost of these filters ranges from $5 to $20 which is slightly more than that of standard filters.

Electrostatic filters use filter media, which use an electric charge to attract the dirt particles in the air. These filters may have electric charge built-in, or else the air moving through the layers of the system creates electric charge. They may cost from around $20 to over $100 each. These filters only need to be changed once a year.

Sometimes people with allergies may consider the usage of an electronic air cleaner in the air conditioner, which works on the same principle as that of electrostatic filter. However, it is far more effective than electrostatic filter and does not hinder the flow of air inside the air conditioning system. Whatever type of air conditioner filter you use, it is advisable to check the cleanliness of the coils of the filter by a contractor at least once in a month.

Perhaps the most important measure that will ensure the efficiency of an air conditioner is frequent replace of its filters. One should change the air conditioner’s filter regularly, as clogged, dirty filters block normal air flow and reduce the system’s efficiency significantly by impairing the coils’ heat-absorbing capacity.

Air Filters Info provides detailed information on home, car, electronic, and HEPA air filters, as well as air conditioner filters and air filter manufacturers. Air Filters Info is the sister site of Air Purifiers Web.

There are a few things you can do to take care of your air conditioner and make its life a little longer and a little easier.

How does your air conditioner work? Simply stated, an air conditioning unit removes heat from the air and blows it outside with an outdoor fan. An indoor fan pulls room air across an evaporator coil filled with refrigerant and transfers cool air into your home. Obviously, the movement of air by fans is a big part of the system. That’s why it is so important to replace the filter at least once a month.

As dust is picked up, it is trapped on the filter, and you would be surprised how quickly the dust accumulates. Trying to pull air through a clogged filter just makes the fan work harder, raising your utility bill.

The same is true for the fan in the outdoor unit. Make sure the outside of the unit is away from shrubs and other vegetation growth, and keep the unit as clean and free of leaves and dirt as possible. Provide at least five feet of clearance at the top and two feet on all sides of the unit.

When using your air conditioning, the best method is to leave the temperature setting at one comfortable spot. The more you move the temperature up and down, the more work your system must do. If you must move the temperature setting, make the smallest movement possible.

Another way to prolong the life of your air conditioning unit is to operate your other appliances wisely. Dishwashers, washers, dryers and stoves all generate heat and humidity indoors. Try to schedule laundry and cooking during the mornings or evenings to avoid taxing your air conditioner in the heat of the day. Use an exhaust fan in the kitchen, and vent your clothes dryer outside to give your air conditioner a hand.

Sunshine is also an enemy of air conditioning. Keep drapes and shades pulled to prevent sunlight form streaming into rooms. Over 20 percent of your bill can be due to sunlight.

Also, make sure the drain your condensation drips into is clear. Pour a cup of regular laundry bleach down the drain once a month to kill algae and mold and keep the drain running smoothly.

Scott Ethridge is a senior air conditioning consultant with R.S. Andrews in Atlanta, Georgia.

Air conditioning units are quickly becoming the norm in today’s world and can be found in homes, offices, and transportation systems all over the country. So why are these technological marvels so popular? Air conditioning units provide a controlled comfortable climate that can be altered according personal preference - whether it be too hot or too cold an air conditioner will make it just right.

Not only is the temperture manipulated but the air has the added benefit of being dehumidified and cleaned by means of series filtration systems . Some units also have special filters that are designed to remove pollutants contained within the air.

The principle is generally based on the same principles that are found in your modern refrigerator, but on a larger scale whereby the area that is being controlled is now extended to cover a whole room or building. air conditioners have three primary parts - a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator.

The coolant or refrigerant is in a vapor form when it reaches the condenser - here it is then put under immense pressure, so much so that it is converted in to its liquid form and the excess heat energy removed. Looking at the condenser more closely you will notice it has fins similar to that found on a car radiator, these fins help disseminate the heat faster.

The liquid coolant then flows down the air conditioning unit through to the evaporator coils where it latterly absorbs the heat from the air that has been drawn in. This process causes the coolant to transform into a gas. The evaporator is also equipped with small metal fins which aids in the transferring the heat from the air to the coolant. When the working fluid leaves the condenser, its temperature is much cooler and it has changed from a gas to a liquid under high pressure. This is then channeled back up through to the condenser and the process is repeated till the desired temperature on the thermostat is reached.

The Department of Energy has put together a set of efficiency standards that dictate the minimum requirements for air conditioning units. The unit that is used to measure this is the “SEER”, otherwise known as seasonal energy efficiency rating. Generally speaking the higher the SEER the more energy efficient the air conditioning unit will be - ideally you would want one rated 12 to 17.

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