Well you have your new air conditioning system installed and are very happy with your decision to make the investment. It was worth every penny and you have no regrets. To keep your new air conditioner working at peak efficiency for many years you need to begin a regular maintenance program that includes changing the filter.

This is one of the most important things you can do to get the best performance from your air conditioning and heating equipment. By changing your air conditioner filter and not allowing it to become dirty and restrict air flow you will enable the air conditioner to operate with minimal power consumption, reduce the risk of break downs and keep the amount of dust in your home at a minimum.

As the air conditioner filter or furnace filter becomes dirty it will gradually begin to restrict air flow through the system. Air conditioners are designed to have a certain amount of air flow for each ton of cooling. Four hundred cfm per ton to be exact. As the filter becomes dirty it will reduce air flow to the point that air flow falls below these design parameters.

When this happens it creates the effect of low load conditions on the air conditioner and the operating pressures begin to drop. Under normal conditions the evaporating temperature in the system will be above 32 degrees Fahrenheit.

Because this evaporating temperature is below the room temperature, and the dew point temperature, condensation forms on the evaporator coil from the air as it passes through the evaporator coil. This is good because it helps maintain a comfortable humidity in your home. The condensation drips from the evaporator and drains away from the unit.

When an air conditioner filter becomes dirty enough to reduce air flow, it has the same effect on the system as low load conditions. When air conditioning equipment operates under low load conditions the evaporator coil can ice up. Once ice begins to form, the problem gets progressively worse and eventually a block of ice forms around the evaporator and there is virtually no air flow.

The ice forms because as the heat load on the system diminishes the evaporating temperature in the evaporator begins to drop. When the evaporating temperature drops below 32 degrees Fahrenheit frost begins to form on the evaporator coil.

As frost begins to form it further reduces the amount of air flow and the situation becomes worse. As mentioned before when equipment is allowed to operate like this, eventually the evaporator will become a block of ice and the unit will have to be turned off and allowed to thaw.

If this situation occurs it can also damage the evaporator to the point where it begins to leak refrigerant and may even have to be replaced, which will be very expensive.

There are other conditions that can cause these symptoms but this is one of the most common. Frost forming on one of the lines coming out of the air handler is an indication of low air flow among other things. The first thing to do is check your air conditioner filter before calling for service.

Not just a heat heater: air conditioners remove moisture from the air and also filter allergens nearly as well as most air purifiers. Air conditioners take the sizzle out of hot, humid days by blowing warm air over metal coils filled with a refrigerant. This not only lowers the air temperature hut also condenses the water vapors in the air, producing a cooler, drier indoor climate.

Aside from added comfort, air conditioners provide protection from several health threats, especially heatstroke. A life-threatening condition, heatstroke usually develops over the course of several scorching, humid days and causes the body to lose its ability to release heat. Sweating stops and the body’s temperature soars. However, spending just a few hours a day in an air-conditioned room can short-circuit this dangerous process. People who suffer from diabetes or heart disease and those who take such medications as anti-histaniines, diuretics, beta-blockers, and vasoconstrietors are at the greatest risk of developing heatstroke.

Air conditioners are also a boon for people who suffer from allergies or asthma. As the units cool the air, they also filter pollen, mold spores, and dust, all of which can trigger allergic and asthmatic reactions.

If air conditioners aren’t well maintained, they can cause some of the very problems they otherwise prevent. A dirty air filter can harbor pollen, fungi, and bacteria and allow millions of microorganisms into the room, possibly triggering an asthma attack, irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat – even flu like illness. Proper maintenance will minimize these risks.

About every two to four weeks, vacuum the air filter, and then wash it in soapy water. Be sure to let the filter dry completely before reinstalling it. You may also want to spray it with a disinfectant to keep it free of mildew. If the air conditioner uses disposable filters, remember to replace them at the recommended intervals.

Air conditioners in large buildings can pose a more serious threat because they use reservoirs of water that can harbor harmful bacteria. When Legionnaires’ disease struck a an American Legion convention in Philadelphia in 1976, epidemiologists found colonies of the deadly Legionella pneutnophila bacterium in the air circulated b1 the hotel’s air-conditioning system. Other organisms that grow in large air-conditioning units can trigger hypersensitivity pneumonitis, also called allergic alveolitis. The condition is caused by inhaling microscopic organic dusts, which inflame the air sacs of the lungs and can eventually interfere with normal breathing.

The air conditioners in our ears can pose problems of their own. The interior of the units are hot, moist, and dark – an ideal breeding ground for fungi and mold spores.

If you are allergic to mold, opt for the fresh air rather than the re-circulated air setting, aim the air vents away from your face, and crack open the car windows for several minutes after you turn on the air conditioner to allow any microorganisms to escape. If the problem persists, you may want to have a qualified mechanic treat the air conditioner with a disinfectant which will keep it mold free for about three months.