If you have ever wondered: “Why do my air filters get dirty so fast?” you’re not alone. Many homeowners have asked this question.
Where does all of the dust and dirt come from? And more importantly, what can you do to stop it?
I have complete trust in Thomas Hoffman AC . I have had multipletechnicians who are always polite and knowledgeable.
Response from the owner: Thank you for your trust in our team, Henry! We appreciate your kind words about our technicians.
Just had our annual service on our furnace. The technician was very professional, friendly, thorough and spent time explaining what all he did and what his recommendations were going forward. Couldn't be happier. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THOMAS HOFFMAN AIR CONDITIONING AND HEATING.
Response from the owner: Terry, we're so grateful for your kind words and for recommending us! We're thrilled to hear that you had a positive experience with our technician during your annual furnace service. Thank you for choosing Thomas Hoffman Air Conditioning and Heating!
Zachary was very professional and friendly and we would be happy to have him return to work on our furnace again in the future!
Response from the owner: Stephanie, we're so happy to hear that Zachary provided you with professional and friendly service! We look forward to working with you again in the future!
Excellent! Highly recommended
Response from the owner: Udis, we truly appreciate your recommendation!
I called on a Monday morning as air conditioning was blowing warm air. They were able to come to my house very early afternoon and fixed the problem. Would highly recommend and will use them again.
Response from the owner: Becky thank you so much for your great review. We appreciate your business and your kind words.
This company is so responsive to me that I love them. They respond immediately and I trust them. It always cost me, but that is the nature of the beast. I haven’t been steered wrong yet. They are genuinely nice to work with and honest. I use their maintenance program as well. Highly recommend.
Response from the owner: Thank you for your kind words, we truly appreciate your trust in us and are glad to hear about your positive experience with our services.
They were outstanding and got us cool very quickly.
Response from the owner: Bill, we're so glad we could help you out quickly! Thank you!
Great job done quickly and I loved how they were on time. Thank you for providing great customer service.
Response from the owner: Myrtle, we're so glad you're happy with our service. Thank you for your kind words!
Giovanni was good…. This is reason we ask for him
Response from the owner: Thanks so much!
Zac and Giovanni are always extremely polite, considerate and professional. We are thrilled to have the new A/C unit. Our unit was 18 years old and stopped working in the thick of 100 degree weather. Tom (the owner) came over within an hour (after hours) and bought us time by changing out some parts until we could have the new one installed. We’re very happy with Thomas Hoffmann A/C and Heating!
Response from the owner: Katie, we're delighted that Zac, Giovanni, and Tom were able to assist you promptly and effectively during the heatwave. Thank you for choosing Thomas Hoffmann A/C and Heating!
Honest takes his time to listen and help you without charging Arm and a leg
Response from the owner: Thank you so much for your kind words, Carrie! We truly appreciate your feedback.
Couldn't be happier with our experience. Our AC stopped working after typical hours and they were the only "24/7" HVAC service who was able to come out same day. Not only were they fast, but they identified and fixed the problem immediately and did some preventative maintenance (and showed me how to do it) to prevent it from happening again. Will absolutely use them again in the future.
Response from the owner: We're so glad to hear about your positive experience, Hannah White! Thank you for choosing us and we look forward to helping you again in the future.
Great service! Prompt, polite and got the job done quickly.
Response from the owner: We're so happy to hear that you had a great experience with us! Thank you for your kind words.
Thomas Hoffman personally quoted the job at a fair price and they did a quality install! I would highly recommend them!
Response from the owner: Thank you for recommending us, Joe! We appreciate your feedback and are glad you were satisfied with our service!
Came same day and fixed the problem.
Response from the owner: Thank you for your feedback! Glad we could help you out the same day.
Caught in a bind one evening (no AC), I called for an appointment to get mine repaired. They came out the next morning, one half hour early! Within 30 minutes we back up and running!! Thank you, Thomas Hoffman. You are my guys!
Response from the owner: Thank you for choosing us, Sue! We're glad we could help you out quickly and get your AC up and running smoothly again! Thomas Hoffman and the team appreciate your kind words!
Blower went out on a Sunday. They answered my call, got me in, replaced blower, very easy!
Response from the owner: We're so glad we could assist you with your blower on a Sunday! Thank you for sharing your experience with us.
Thomas is amazing and came over in only a couple hours and fixed my ac! True life saver 🙏🏼
Response from the owner: Thank you for sharing your experience with Thomas! We're glad to hear he was able to help you out quickly and efficiently. 👍
Fantastic experience! Our AC went out on a scorching Saturday evening. I wasn’t actually expecting anybody to get out that night, but when calling - I immediately got an answer, was on the schedule in 5 minutes, and Thomas showed up an hour later. He was honest, professional, and educational. Most importantly, I didn’t feel like he was cutting corners or trying to get in and out… a welcome contrast from most services these days. 6 stars out of 5, highly recommend.
Response from the owner: Thank you for sharing your experience, Andrew! We're so glad to hear that Thomas provided such honest and professional service for your AC needs. We truly appreciate your recommendation and look forward to serving you again in the future.
Service technician came out to fix our problem within 2 hours of my call. Fixed the problem. Was excellent.
Response from the owner: Thank you for sharing your experience with us! We're glad we could resolve the issue promptly for you. Thank you for your continued support of Thomas Hoffmann AC and Heating!
Our air conditioner stopped working & left us in this unbearable heat. Thomas Hoffman air conditioning & heating came to the rescue and saved the day!! We can't thank you enough. We highly recommended his services.
Response from the owner: We are so grateful we could help during the unbearable heat. Thank you for recommending our services!
A/C went out after hours. Company came out with no hesitation and got us going right away. Excellent service and would recommend to anyone that has the need.
Response from the owner: We're so grateful for your kind words and glad we could help you out when your A/C went out after hours. Thank you for recommending us!
We have complete trust in Thomas Hoffman AC. They have helped us several times over the years with hard to diagnose issues with our geothermal heat pump and traditional HVAC. They are competent, courteous and very easy to schedule .
Response from the owner: We appreciate your trust in us, Maria Grazia! It's great to hear about your positive experiences with our services. Thank you for your kind words!
The service technicians are very courteous and communicate well with the customer. They let you know what, if any, problems are found, the options, and the cost of the repair(s). Quick and efficient.
Response from the owner: Thank you for recognizing our service technicians' courteous and effective communication, we appreciate your feedback!
Nick came on SUNDAY when my a/c quit. He fixed the problem quickly and the price was reasonable. Great customer service.
Response from the owner: Thank you for sharing your experience, Sherri! We're glad we could help with your a/c and provide great customer service at a reasonable price. We appreciate your business!
Called Thomas Hoffmann HVAC and received service very quickly, nick came out the next day and repaired my issue quickly. Really appreciate their service and would recommend to anyone in kirkwood!
Response from the owner: Thank you for choosing Thomas Hoffmann HVAC! We're glad we could promptly address and resolve your HVAC issue. Appreciate your recommendation!
Excellent Service. Thank you Zackery
Response from the owner: Thank you for your kind words, Buzz! It was a pleasure assisting you.
Excellent service! I called Thomas Hoffman A/C & Heating at 8pm and they had us back up and going before bedtime! Great company!
Response from the owner: We're so glad we could assist you quickly! Thank you for choosing Thomas Hoffman A/C & Heating!
Came quickly and was awesome to talk to. Quick and had all the parts on hand. Wouldn’t use anyone else.
Response from the owner: Thank you for your kind words, Brendan! We're glad to hear that you had a positive experience with us. We appreciate your support!
We recently had no a/c during a heat advisory. Thomas Hoffmann AC and Heating did a great job getting us back up and running and helped us make the most cost effective decisions on the fix.
Response from the owner: Thank you for sharing your experience, we're glad we could help you during a challenging time. Thank you for your continued support, Don!
Thomas came to the rescue when our AC went out when it was 100 degrees out! He arrived a few hours after placing an after hours call and quickly diagnosed the problem. He had our AC unit back up and running within an hour so my family could sleep in a cool house. I highly recommend Thomas Hoffmann for anyone needing AC services!
Response from the owner: Thank you for sharing your experience, Lindsay! So glad Thomas could help get your AC up and running smoothly again for your family's comfort. Your recommendation means a lot!
Thomas Hoffman repaired our furnace in this past winter and A/C this summer. Job well done in both instances. Thank you!
Response from the owner: Thank you for trusting us with your furnace and A/C repairs, Jennifer! We appreciate your kind words and are glad we could help.
Our technician Zach was friendly and did a very thorough job. He even called me ahead of our appointment to let me know he might be a little later than anticipated. Would highly recommend.
Response from the owner: Thank you for recommending us, we appreciate your kind words and are glad to hear about your positive experience with Zach.
Great experience. Nick diagnosed the issue quickly (unit making annoying noise). Nick was speedy in the repair, and also made a courtesy follow-up visit. Nick provided excellent technical expertise, customer service and communication. Nick was chill and friendly, and overall pried and exceptional customer experience.
Response from the owner: Thank you for sharing your experience, Jon! We appreciate your kind words and are glad to hear that Nick was able to provide you with excellent service.
I am very pleased with the service provided., especially the quick response to my request . The technician came on a Sunday morning and had my cooling system repaired within an hour. Thank you !
Response from the owner: We're delighted we could promptly assist you on a Sunday morning and fix your cooling system efficiently. Thank you!
Great job explaining the situation they were early and notified me on estimated arrival time. Great customer service and reasonable prices as well will definitely use again for personal and business.
Response from the owner: Thank you for the kind words! We're glad to hear that you were pleased with our service and pricing. Looking forward to serving you again soon!
Top notch company
Response from the owner: Thank you for your kind words, Greg! We appreciate your feedback!
Nick Hoffmann with Thomas Hoffmann Heating and Cooling is top notch. He is a true professional with friendly service. They do service, repair, and installation. They have a lot of years of experience and always look for the best way to help each and every customer. Please give Nick a call today for all of your heating and cooling needs.
Response from the owner: Thank you for recognizing Nick's professionalism and friendly service, we appreciate your kind words and are glad to hear about your positive experience with us!
We used Thomas Hoffman Air Conditioning to service our Hot Water Heater and plan on using them in the future for maintenance program.
Response from the owner: Thank you so much for your great review. We appreciate your business.
Fast response and quick resolution
Response from the owner: Thank you for your feedback! We're glad we could help you quickly.
Quick to respond, very open and honest about what was wrong with good recommendations. We will continue to use them for all our HVAC needs
Response from the owner: Thank you for your kind words and for choosing us for your HVAC needs! We appreciate your trust and look forward to continuing to serve you.
Possible Causes
There are many reasons why your air conditioner filters are getting dirty quickly. Here are the top four culprits.
- Cheap filters: Cheap filters tend to have shorter lifespans than high-quality filters. Take, for instance, the standard fiberglass air filters. These types of air filters are generally designed to last for 30 days. Therefore, if you notice that your air filters are gathering dirt fast, it may be due to the inexpensive and low-quality air filters you’re buying.
- High temperatures: When the outside temperatures become extreme, your air filter might begin to experience dirt problems. This is because, during extremely hot weather, more air is pushed through the AC system by the blower motor. As a result, the filters will capture more dirt and clog faster.
- Contaminants in the Air: High levels of dust and debris put a strain on your unit, making your filters clog faster. An increase in the number of people in your home can also increase the amount of dirt being kicked up into your system.
- Leaking air ducts: The air ducts are responsible for carrying heated or cooled air around your home. If there are duct leaks, this will make your unit work harder and get dirtier faster.
- Mold: In some cases, moisture can transfer to the air conditioner, leading to growth and accumulation of mold on the air filters. Aside from slowing your system, mold can also cause health issues.
Problems Caused by Dirty Filters
When your air filter becomes dirty, you may experience the following problems:
- Overheating: When the AC filters are dirty, they may eventually cause your air conditioning system to overheat. This is because the system has to work harder to keep up.
- Inadequate heating/cooling: If your AC filters become clogged, reaching the desired indoor temperature levels can be difficult. Less air blowing through the system due to dirt and debris can, in turn, lead to uncomfortable warm temperatures in your home.
- Unclean air: If your conditioner is not working properly, the air inside your house will become stagnant, and this can cause poor indoor air quality. Poor indoor air quality has been linked to respiratory issues such as asthma and lung disease.
How to Choose the Best Air Filters for Your Home
Air filters are one of the most important components of your HVAC system. Your unit’s performance is directly influenced by what air filters you choose and how well you maintain them.
Here is a breakdown of the main types of air filters for your home and how to choose the right one for you.
Types of Filters
Certain features and properties set apart different types of filters. To browse for air filters efficiently, you have to decide what kind of product your unit needs. Here’s what to keep in mind.
- The Size of the Filters – Make sure to accurately measure or check the size of the old filters on your HVAC system. Only go with what the manufacturer recommends, as filters that are incorrectly sized will not perform properly. Atypical openings will need air filters in special sizes and shapes, as trying to adjust a standard one yourself can render it inefficient.
- The Materials Used – The variety of materials and styles you can find can make your choice difficult, especially if you don’t know what to look for. You might need a thicker and denser filter if you live in a house where more air is circulated. Most air filters are made out of fiberglass, as it’s one of the more affordable options. Eco-friendly materials are also available, especially for reusable filters that one can wash for maintenance.
- The Style – Two of the most commonly found styles of air filters are: pleated and honeycomb. Pleated filters have a bigger surface area to process the air, allowing the filter to catch more particles and circulate the air easier. In addition to the pleated style, these filters often have an electrostatic charge, which traps the particles and makes them stick to the filter. The honeycomb structure is mostly seen in more affordable filters. The honeycomb cells are made with paper fibers, fiberglass, or textile fibers, filtering the dirty air through the flutes.
The above characteristics are the very basics of air filters for your home. Here is more information that you can check when looking for air filters for your home.
The MERV Rating
The MERV rating system (an acronym for the minimum efficiency reporting value) is a 1 to 16 scale that shows how effective an air filter is in filtering out particles.
MPR (Microparticle Performance Rating)
MPR rates the filter’s ability to keep out nanoparticles from the air (particles with a circumference smaller than 1 micron. For people suffering from dust, mites, pollen allergies, a system with a high MPR can drastically change the quality of their life.
Call Thomas Hoffmann Air Conditioning & Heating
Whether your air filters are getting dirty too quickly, your system needs maintenance, or you are in need of any other HVAC service, our experienced HVAC technicians can help! Give us a call today!
24/7 Service Call Now
At Thomas Hoffmann Air Conditioning & Heating, we pride ourselves in being a locally owned and operated HVAC company. With more than 30 years of experience and a master technician and mechanical engineer as our owner, we can replace, repair, and provide maintenance for your business or home’s HVAC system.
