How well is yourair conditioning unit working? Is it cooling in a decent amount of time? Do you need to wait for over an hour to feel comfort at the level you want? If your system isn't working efficiently, you may have to deal with higher power bills to go along with your extended discomfort. Your air conditioning unit's filter is important for filtering out pollutants, but the wrong filter can be a useless drag on the system. Here are a few filter details to help you pick out the right type of filter.

Not All Filters Are The Same

What kind of filter do you have? Do you simply get the cheapest filter on the market that fits your system, or do you go for the most expensive, premium product available? Unfortunately, both answers are wrong if you're living in a residential building.

Every filter has is designed to catch a specific set of debris, contaminants, and/or pollutants. The cheapest filters on the market are usually dust filters, and while that's good for most households without major health conditions and no local air pollution, they're fairly useless in many homes.

If you live in a city with car or industrial pollution, you need a filter that can handle air pollution. Reducing metals and smog content from a home in a polluted area can be a life-changing experience, and even if opening the front door brings in a bit more pollution, you can gain a lot more comfort for the time that you're inside.

If someone in your home has allergies, there are multiple filters to handle different allergens. From pollen and ragweed to animal dander, there's a filter type that can capture the specific allergen. The main concern with allergy filters is a good way to understand how all filters differ.

It's About The Mesh Shape

Every filter has a specific mesh or shape that is designed to capture different types of debris. Air still needs to pass through, so a filter that restricts every major air quality pollutant on the air filter market will cause your air conditioning unit to work harder--which means more money on your power bill. The air conditioning system has to stay on longer to cause the same cooling, and the same goes for the heating system.

This is why you need to have a specific pollutant filter in mind. Don't just buy a HEPA filter and call it a day, especially if no one in your household has health issues related to certain pollutants. It's not all bad unless your body specifically has issues with it, and it's a good idea to get a medical professional's opinion.

One problem with filter shopping is the power of suggestion. You can trick yourself into feeling ill because of a perceived contaminant. Fear itself is a powerful health risk and can work even if you're not aware of your concerns, but a medical examination can help you figure out if you're being triggered by suggestion or a medical condition.

That said, if you just don't want dog hair floating around in your air, there's nothing wrong with personal preference. Stay safe, shop efficiently, and contact an air conditioning maintenance and replacement professional to find other efficiency points in your air conditioning system.