Derek ColeGM, Simmons One Hour Heating & Air · AI HVAC Answers

The Impact of Dirt on HVAC Efficiency: Importance of Regular Maintenance #shorts

23 Apr 2026 · 1 min

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In this short video, Derek Cole highlights how even a small amount of dirt—just 1/20th of an inch—can reduce HVAC system efficiency by more than 20%, citing EPA data. He explains that a newly installed 14 SEER unit can lose its rated efficiency if not cleaned within six months to a year, effectively negating its energy‑saving benefits. Cole stresses the importance of regular maintenance, recommending bi‑annual cleaning and inspections of both heating and cooling components to preserve system performance.

Chapters

According to the EPA, 1/20th of an inch of dirt can drop your efficiency by over 20%. So if you just bought a 14 SEER unit 6 months ago and you don't have it cleaned out, you know, at 6 months or at a year, you don't have it done, well, you don't have a 14 SEER unit anymore. So if you take an inch, slice it up 20 times, And that is how a little bit of dirt can affect your efficiency. So it's very important to keep it maintained, keep it clean, and to keep it checked. You do it twice a year because you do— you want to do it for the— and check the heating and check the cooling.