Do indoor air conditioners have a filter? The answer is yes! Most central air conditioning units have two or more filters that clean the air and ensure good air quality as the unit circulates between indoor and outdoor air. It's important to never attempt to run the air conditioner without a filter, as this can lead to serious and costly problems. The main purpose of an air conditioning filter is to remove dirt, debris, moisture, and mold from the air that circulates through your system. Depending on the type of filter you have, it should be replaced or cleaned every six months.
It's best to leave the selection of these filters to the professionals, as filters that are too powerful can cut off airflow through the HVAC system, leading to component damage and a loss of home comfort. Your AC filter is usually constructed of spun fiberglass material or of pleated paper or cloth within a frame. It's usually located close to your home thermostat, in a return duct, or right next to the air handler for your air conditioning system. If you can't find the filter in the attic air conditioner unit, there may be no filters in the roof suction tubes.
If you don't have a new replacement filter on hand when you want to replace your current one, it's best to wait until you have one or call an HVAC professional to have it replaced. They will come to your house and replace the filter or explain how you can do it over the phone. In addition to replacing or cleaning your filter every six months, you can also use an air purifier for more thorough air cleaning. Air purifiers can remove more than 98% of contaminants if combined with the right set of filters.
While some homeowners can clean or replace their air conditioning filters on their own, there's no shame in letting a professional do the work for you. They will be able to select the best oven filter for your system and ensure that it is installed correctly. To sum up, indoor AC units do have a filter and it's important to never run your system without one. Follow our advice and never attempt to run your system without a filter as this can lead to serious and costly problems.
Make sure to replace or clean your filter every six months and consider using an air purifier for more thorough air cleaning.
