Keep Your System Running: HVAC Cottonwood Filters in Missouri and Seasonal Care

Spring and early summer bring a familiar nuisance to many homes: cottonwood seeds drifting like snow. While visually harmless, this fluff can clog HVAC cottonwood filters and reduce airflow, strain fans, and lower system efficiency. Understanding how to manage cottonwood-season load helps maintain comfort and keep energy bills in check. 

Filters as Your First Line of Defense 

HVAC cottonwood filters in Missouri are simply your system’s first line of defense during seed season. Pleated filters with higher particle-capture ratings trap more fibers than basic flat fiberglass panels. Check your owner’s manual for compatible filter sizes and consider upgrading to a filter designed for finer particulates if cottonwood is prominent around your property. 

Inspect and Replace Frequently

Inspection and replacement frequency matter. During heavy cottonwood weeks, inspect filters every two to four weeks and replace them when visibly loaded. A clogged filter can force your system to run longer, increasing wear. Keep a spare set of appropriately sized filters on hand so you can swap them quickly. 

Reduce Cottonwood Entry Around Your Home

Beyond filters, simple steps reduce cottonwood entry. Seal gaps around doors and windows, install screens on attic and exterior vents, and keep outdoor intake grilles clear of debris. Professional duct inspections can reveal areas where seeds collect or bypass filters. 

Choose Filters with Care

When choosing a filter, balance filtration and airflow: overly restrictive filters on systems not designed for them can impede performance. If in doubt, consult an HVAC technician about compatible MERV ratings and installation best practices. 

Maintain a Seasonal Filter Routine 

Regular upkeep also extends filter life and reduces service calls. Track replacement dates with a calendar reminder and compare filter performance season-to-season to identify trends. Small habits now prevent costly repairs later and keep indoor air quality consistently better year-round. 

Stop Airborne Debris on the Outside of your HVAC Units where it is Easy to See and Clean

Stops Cottonwood Seed, Lint, Insects, Leaves, Pollen, Grass, Construction Debris and Much, Much More
 
Cottonwood Filter Screens are Compatible with All Equipment Makes & Models

Cottonwood Filter Screens (also known as Air Intake or Air Inlet Filters) Will Help Mechanical Equipment Run Clean & Efficient All Season Long While Reducing Energy Cost and Significantly Reducing Maintenance Time & Effort.

 
And if you are Working on LEED Certification, Cottonwood Filter Screens Can Help you Earn Cost Effective LEED Credits So You Don’t Go Broke Going Green!

One of the world’s largest internet companys uses Cottonwood Filters for BIG ENERGY SAVINGS

 
Dramatic Savings & Efficiency for Cooling Towers & Chiller Plants
 
  Click Photo for study

The big “light bulb” moment came when the laminar air flow increased the delta-T and reduced the leaving water temperature in the sump by 1°F better than design, along with reducing fan motor run-time 5% and lowering tower maintenance cost by 20%.  1½ year ROI. 

 
There are similar results for Air-Cooled Chillers, RTU’s,  CRAC Condensers and Dry-Coolers.
 
This Owner Is Using Cottonwood Filters on 50+ Cooling Towers as a part of their global green building initiative.  What about your cooling towers, air-cooled chillers and RTUs?

Weather Guard from Air Solution Company

 Weather Guard For Low Ambient Chiller Start-up
(Patent Pending)

Weather Guards mount over the condenser coils on the prevailing wind side of the unit to block air movement through the coil during low ambient operation. Note, low ambient temperatures will offset the reduction of air movement through the coil.

Compressors require a small amount of heat retention to support the startup process – however, during frigid temperatures, it takes as little as a 5 mph breeze through the coil to dissipate the necessary heat required and when this happens, the compressors will stall leaving process equipment and operations starved for cooling.

Wind Guards are constructed of a heavy duty, fiber reinforced vinyl with outer reinforcement. Includes choice of fasteners: – nylon turn stud or toggle fasteners, Heavy duty Stud Adapters or Self-tapping Screws & Bonded Washers.
 Wind Guards Must Be Removed When Ambient Temperatures Rise to a Point where Air Movement through the Coil is required for normal operation – Contact Plant For Minimum Equipment Requirements for Using This Product.

 

 

Protect Cooling Tower Fill Media and Basin Components from Damaging Ice and Snow Build-up During Winter Shut Down (Patent Pending)
Also ideal for protecting Fill Media during transportation and prior to New Construction Start-up
  
 

Weather Guards mount over the intake opening on cooling towers to protect the fill and sump from ice and snow build-up during winter shut down. When produced at the same time as Air Inlet Screens, Weather Guards will mount directly over the top of the Screens using the same fasteners.

 

Weather Guards are constructed of a heavy duty, fiber reinforced vinyl with outer reinforcement. Includes choice of fasteners: – nylon twist lock or toggle fasteners, heavy duty Stud Adapters or Self-tapping Screws & Bonded Washers.

 

Scroll Down for Cottonwood Filter Videos

Cooling Season is here!  Some buildings are ready.  Are you?

Cooing Season is here and its annual
“One-Two Punch”: first, storms with hail, then cottonwood season.
 It’s really tough on your HVAC equipment.
 
Rooftop units, condensers, air-cooled chillers & cooling towers get beat up.
 
It hits your maintenance budget, electric bills and bottom line every day!
Don’t let it “punch your lights out” with high electric bills, compressor failures and premature equipment replacement!
 
Many companies responsible for building operation and maintenance have taken steps to mitigate these problems.
We can help you, too.  With the proven, reliable and patented products manufactured by Air Solution Company.
éPlus Environmental Solutions is the authorized factory representative in Kansas & Missouri.
Call us today, we really can help.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Check back,more videos will be posted in the future.
Product Overview from AHR 2012 Combo  Playlist – 4 Videos

 

Pulley Mount System with Vinyl Cover

Close-Up Look at the Vinyl Cover

Two-Men Lowering the Pulley-Mount Filter

One-Man Lowering the Pulley-Mount Filter

Aircuity Knowledge Center

3rd party Expert Reports & Analysis, Web-based data management & full documentation

 
Benefits to building owners and managers:

  • Lower Risk

Minimize the chance of a “healthy” building becoming “sick”.  Potential problems are quickly identified and can usually be corrected at minimal expense.

  • Resolve Indoor Air Quality Complaints

Professionally, quickly and inexpensively respond to complaints from building occupants.

  • Reduce Liability

Professional monitoring and evaluation programs provided by our technical staff demonstrate that you have taken necessary steps to ensure a healthy environment

  • Improve Relationships

Employees and building occupants appreciate your true concern for their wellbeing.

  • Save Money

Regular air quality monitoring helps prevent unexpected maintenance and can reduce building operating costs.

  • Maintain and Increase Property Value

Maintain the highest value of your building asset.

The Best Way to Keep Micro-Channel Coils Clean

Keep the coils clean from the start and all the time

 
Installing Air Solution Company’s patented cottonwood air intake filters keeps the coils clean, thereby maintains maximum efficiency and dramatically reduces your operating & maintenance costs. The ideal time is before start-up, when the equipment is new and clean.
 
 
 This unit is protected by Air Solution Company’s patented Cottonwood Filters top & bottom
 New Micro-Channel Coils
 Photos of NEW  Micro-Channel Coils accumulating cottonwood and insects

 Coils can be easily damaged
Industry Consensus

The coil cleaning procedure for microchannel coils is significantly different than tube and fin type coils. As such, care must be taken to understand the differences to avoid damage to the microchannel coil. These differences require a number of DO NOT’s that must be observed:

  • DO NOT use coil cleaners or any chemical on a microchannel coil. This can cause severe damage to the coils.


  • DO NOT use a pressure washer to clean the coils. While it is possible to clean a coil with a pressure washer, it’s also possible to destroy it.


  • DO NOT contact the coil with a hard surface such as a hose nozzle or metal vacuum nozzle or any other tool.
 

Microchannel coils tend to accumulate more dirt on the surface, but less dirt inside the coils, which makes them easier to clean. Follow the three steps below for cleaning the coils:

1.      Remove surface debris such as dirt, leaves, insects, fibers, etc. with a vacuum cleaner having a soft attachment rather than a metal tube. Compressed air blown from the inside out can also be used. When brushing debris off the face of the coil a soft bristle (not wire) brush can be used. Do not scrape the coil with the vacuum nozzle, air nozzle, or any other tool.

2.      Rinse the coil with tap water. Do not use coil cleaners. Rinse the coil from the inside out, running water through every passage in the heat exchanger surface until it is clean. Microchannel coils are stronger than conventional tube and fin coils, but handle them with care, since you can cause a leak due to impact. Use a gentle spray from a spray nozzle with a plastic end or put your finger on the end of the spray nozzle to reduce impact and provide a gentle spray.

3.      Because of the fin geometry, microchannel coils retain water more than tube and fin style. It is generally recommended to blow or vacuum out the rinse water from the coils to speed drying and prevent water pooling.

Save Energy, Time, Money and extend the life of your RTU’s & Air-Cooled Chillers

 

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