subject: Why You Should Consider Permanent Air Conditioning Filters [print this page] As big and bulky as they may be, air conditioners are fairly simple appliances that cool warm air using the refrigeration cycle. Like most major inventions, there were dozens of people who contributed to its development, including famous names like Benjamin Franklin and Michael Faraday. The first modern electrical air conditioning system was created by Willis Carrier in 1902. It was designed for industrial applications, rather than for residential use. And it worked. According to historians the device actually increased productivity in the workplace.
Air conditioners for the home were invented shortly thereafter, but were far too expensive for average folks. They were luxury items that only the rich could afford. As the American middle class continued to expand after the war years, people were finally able to afford a few amenities. The television, refrigerator, and air conditioner became signs of middle-class status during the 1950s and 60s.
Where are we now?
According to a recent estimate, around 85 percent of American homes now have some form of air conditioning. The device has become so familiar to us that we've come to expect the sound of cold air blowing through a vent when we go to the grocery store, the library, or even to the movies...when it's hot out, of course. But that does necessarily mean we take it for granted.
When the National Academy of Engineering released their list of the 20 greatest engineering accomplishments of the last century a few years ago, A.C. made the grade. In fact, it beat out more high-profile entries like the spacecraft and even the Internet!
Types
The air conditioner hasn't changed all that much since its introduction. Yes, the average unit is much smaller and more efficient than it forebears, but it relies on the same technology. Because they are less expensive, through window and wall units are still the most popular type of air conditioner, especially in the cities. You can see them jutting out of the windows of apartment buildings in an urban area across the nation. In the suburbs, however, homeowners have been making the transition to a relatively new air conditioning system called central air.
Rather than relying on window or wall units to cool each room, this system uses an outdoor unit that pumps cold air through a series of ducts to whichever room in the home requires cooling. It is more expensive to install, but should save homeowners money over time.
Permanent air conditioning filters
No matter what type of air conditioning system you own, they all include air filters. As you might expect, the job of an air filter is to remove impurities, allergens, and pollutants from the outside air before it is cooled and pumped into the home. Most air conditioners are sold with disposable air filters that are made of cardboard and fiberglass. Once they get clogged up with dirt and dust, they must be discarded and replaced with a new air filter. Although they are more expensive, permanent air conditioning filters will save you money in only about a year.
How do we know?
It all depends on usage, of course. The more you run your air conditioner, the dirty the filter will get. But according to most HVAC professionals, AC air filters should be cleaned or replaced every one to three months. If you heed that sage advice, the money you waste on disposable filters could pay for a new electrostatic air conditioner filter in about a year.
Made of durable materials like aluminum and steel, these devices should last for many years. They are relatively easy to clean and trap about ten times as much dust and dirt and unwanted debris as their disposable peers!
