Your air conditioner's air filters are a small but essential part of the appliance, as they work to keep dust, dirt, and other airborne debris and contaminants--which can clog up your system and cause malfunctions--out of the unit. This means that a clogged or full air filter can have a number of negative effects on your air conditioner. Understanding what those effects are and why it's important to check and replace your air filter in the spring, before the summer heat sets in and your air conditioning system sees a great deal of use, can help you keep your unit in good working order.

Efficiency and Effectiveness

The most important reason why you should replace your air conditioner's air filter in the spring is because doing so will greatly boost the efficiency and effectiveness of your unit. This is because an air filter that has collected a great deal of dust won't be able to provide enough air for your air conditioner to chill your home, forcing it to work harder and longer to provide the same comfort level. This will drive up your energy bills associated with your air conditioner and also reduce the rate at which your home cools down and becomes comfortable, or even prevent the unit from functioning at all.

Air Quality

Another important reason to replace your air filter early in the spring, especially if you or a family member has allergies or respiratory problems, is because doing so can help improve your home's air quality. A clogged air filter will allow small bits of dust and other allergens to flow into the air conditioner and spread throughout your home's ductwork and will not be able to remove other debris from the air as it moves through the air conditioner. This can greatly aggravate allergies, asthma, and similar problems.

Reduced Repairs and Stress

Finally, the last reason why you should replace your air conditioner's air filter in the spring is because doing so can reduce the overall amount of stress that your unit is placed under. As already mentioned, a clean air filter can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of your air conditioner and thus reduce the amount of stress that is placed on the other components of the appliance. This reduces the amount of wear and tear that these components experience, thus making repairs, damage, and even complete unit breakdowns unlikely to occur. Contact air conditioning services right away if any of your components are damaged.