Do air conditioning systems have filters? The answer is a resounding yes! Most central air conditioning units have two or more filters, which are usually made of fiberglass or pleated materials. These filters clean the air and ensure good air quality as the unit circulates between indoor and outdoor air. It is possible to run your HVAC unit without a filter, but it is not recommended. Doing so for more than six hours can bring dirty air to your home or office and risk damaging the unit. Plastic mesh filters are commonly installed in the return air of most indoor air conditioner units in rooms or windows, trapping larger dust particles and needing to be cleaned every two weeks. Electrostatic air filters are also commonly placed in the return air of the air conditioning unit.
These filters use an electric field to trap particles, with an ionized voltage of up to 12 kV between two plates. The electronic circuit used to generate the voltage is generally embedded in the control printed circuit board or in a separate module. Larger homes usually have more than one climate control system, each with at least one air filter. It is important to check every possible location to ensure that all filters are accounted for. An air conditioning system that works without a filter will have an enormous negative impact on indoor air quality, potentially leading to the spread of diseases or an increase in allergic reactions. The filter in your HVAC system works to remove particles from the air in your home and keep your air conditioner and boiler running smoothly.
The use of HEPA filters in air conditioning is increasingly important, as consumers demand better air quality. Those with more folds provide better filtration and help prevent dust and other particles from being recirculated in the air. The return vent that sucks in air has a filter, which is the only thing that stands between the clean air that enters the unit and the dirt and debris that were present in the air before being sucked in. We evaluate how well an air filter removes dust, pollen and smoke from the air, and see how freely air flows through the filter at any fan speed. The coronavirus responsible for COVID-19 has particles with peaks that measure between 9 and 12 nanometers, which means that an air conditioning system or air purifier equipped with a HEPA filter can effectively reduce its presence in the air. The boiler and air conditioning system use the exact same filter, so there's no need to worry about buying separate filters for each piece of equipment. A dirty filter forces the HVAC unit to work harder than normal because it's harder for it to suck in air.
