AIR CONDITIONER AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR

The present invention comprises: a first filter, and a second filter positioned in the slipstream of the first filter in the airflow direction; a dust amount sensor positioned before the first filter in the airflow direction, having a hole part through which dust passes, and transmitting, per unit of time, each of a first total, which is the amount of dust in a first size range, and a second total, which is the amount of dust in a second size range smaller than the first size range, of the dust passing through the hole part; and a control unit for outputting the service signal of the first filter if the accumulated value of the first total transmitted from the dust amount sensor exceeds a first set value, and outputting the service signal of the second filter if the accumulated value of the second total transmitted from the dust amount sensor exceeds a second set value, wherein the optimum service time of each of the first filter and the second filter, which are capable of filtering dust of different sizes, can be independently calculated such that the unnecessary service of one of the first filter and the second filter can be blocked, and the optimum service time according to the indoor quality can be indicated.