In Amarillo, Texas, dirt is a way of life. Amarilloans have a good understanding of dirt! The wind can blow for weeks on end at 30-50 mph, and we don’t seem to think anything about it. That’s just Amarillo!
The Dangers of Dirt To Your AC System
Dirt can cause major damage to major parts of your AC system, especially the electrical and mechanical components—so let’s talk about dirt! Often when our technicians are out on a repair call, dirt is the culprit. How can dirt be so destructive to your system? Well, it attacks several vital components in your HVAC system.
Ways To Protect Your HVAC System
- Filters: A dirty or clogged filter can greatly reduce air flow which in turn can cause your system to work harder. Putting undue stress on your system can shorten the life and efficiency which isn’t good! Have you ever had a frozen coil? A dirty filter can cause this too!
- Coil: Did you know that as little as 1/20th inch of dirt can cause a coil to work overtime? Overtime equals higher utility bills. (Reminder: cleaning an evaporative coil needs to be done by a professional and in most cases should not be cleaned in the first place, it needs to be removed.)
- Blower: Did you know that as little as 1/10th inch of dirt can also cause your blower to work overtime which, yes, equals higher utility bills.
Consequences Of A Dirty AC System
- Unneeded repairs
- Higher utility costs
- Early replacement
- Poor Indoor Air Quality
- Increase amounts of dust and dirt in your home
- Reduced comfort
Now that you understand how destructive dirt can be on your HVAC system, what can you do about this?