Sawdust And Air Conditioners: Why This Is Such A Problematic Combination For Carpenters

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Those who love working with wood either professionally or as an amateur need to understand the severe dangers that sawdust poses to their air conditioning units. It may surprise many to know this, but sawdust can cause an air conditioner or an HVAC system to malfunction or even break down. Here's how to avoid it.

Sawdust Can Easily Clog The Air Filter

Sawdust is the most common air contaminant in a carpentry shop for obvious reasons. Most carpenters will wear air masks or filters to protect their face and lungs from this problematic item. However, few consider the dangers that sawdust poses to their air conditioning or HVAC system.

If enough sawdust gets airborne and ends up in the filter, it can easily cause serious clogs. While this might not seem like a big deal at first, it can be a very problematic situation if a clogged air filter ends up causing the system to break down completely.

Why A Clogged Air Filter Is Dangerous

When an air filter gets clogged with too much dirt, it can cause a restriction that makes it impossible for the evaporator coil to stay warm. As a result, the coil may freeze up and provide less air. This problem can be very difficult for the average carpentry shop. For example, it can cause the system to run poorly or to break down completely.

When this happens, it can cause a failure of an air conditioning system on a busy and hot carpentry business. Sometimes, these companies don't have extra money to spend on repairing or replacing an air conditioning system. If an air filter goes out, they may end up suffering from heat stroke and injuring themselves on a saw or another sharp tool.

Avoiding This Problem

People who own a wood shop need to take the time to avoid getting a clogged up air filter in their air conditioner. The best way to do that is to clean it with warm water or vacuum ever month or two. Most air conditioners should easy-to-remove air filters that a carpenter can find during their off hours, remove, and eliminate the sawdust from quite easily.

It is also a good idea to pair this system with a dust-collection device. These powerful devices can be installed in a shop and suck sawdust and other contaminants away from an air conditioner. In this way, the shop owner minimizes the potential dirt on their filter and keeps it from getting clogged or running poorly.

Any carpenter that is worried about the dangers posed by a clogged air conditioner filter need to take the time to learn how to inspect and clean this item. It can help improve the operation of their HVAC system and protect their workers from heat stroke injuries. Contact a service, like Controlled Comfort, for more help.


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