
Problems You May Encounter if You Don’t Clean Your AC Filter
- Higher Electricity Cost When the air filter in your AC is clogged or dusty, it may lead to increased energy consumption by up to 15%. If you don’t clean or change your AC’s air filter routinely, the unit will need more power to release and circulate cool air throughout your room. ...
- Inadequate Cooling ...
- Frozen Evaporator Coils ...
- Allergen Build-up ...
- Short-Cycling ...
Why is my air conditioner freezing up?
Why does my fan stop working?

What happens if you dont clean your AC filter?
If you don't change your AC filter, it will begin to fail. It will no longer be able to filter the air properly, letting dust and contaminants get into the AC. Dust jams the moving parts of an AC such as fan motors and valves. Airflow is restricted which creates a strain on the system.
What happens if air conditioner filter is dirty?
If the filter is very dirty, you may even feel warm air coming out of the back of the unit. A clogged filter forces the air conditioner to work harder to keep the house cool. This will lead to more frequent AC repairs and, ultimately, shorten the lifespan of the unit.
Is it necessary to clean AC filter?
Air Conditioner Filters The most important maintenance task that will ensure the efficiency of your air conditioner is to routinely replace or clean its filters. Clogged, dirty filters reduce the amount of airflow and significantly reduce a system's efficiency.
Can I run my AC with a dirty filter?
While your HVAC unit will run, it should never run without an air filter. Dirt is the number one cause of air conditioners breaking down, so running your unit without an installed air filters can cause serious damage.
What problems can a dirty air filter cause?
Here are seven common problems that could be solved by replacing your air filter:Strange engine noises. ... Decreased performance. ... Decreased fuel economy. ... Black smoke or flames in the exhaust. ... Smell of petrol in the exhaust. ... Air filter looks dirty. ... Check engine light comes on.
Can a dirty air filter stop AC from cooling?
Many people wonder, “Can a dirty air filter cause my AC not to cool?” The simple answer is yes – a dirty filter can create several problems that can hinder your unit's effectiveness. Not to mention, a dirty filter can also lead to premature failure of your system.
How often should the AC be cleaned?
A general rule of thumb is to clean or replace the filters once a month during the usage season. If you only run the air conditioner occasionally, you might be able to push this to every two months, but it is better to just get in the habit of doing it on the first day each month.
Why does my AC filter get dirty so fast?
You're leaving your thermostat fan set to ON When you set your fan to ON, it runs 24/7. And when the air in your home circulates through your filter and AC system non-stop, it's going to pick up dirt and air contaminants at a much faster rate.
How long can you run AC without filter?
6-8 hoursThe short answer: You can get away with running your AC without a filter for a short amount of time without hurting your system. That being said, running your AC without a filter for longer than 6-8 hours can cause serious damage to your AC system and significantly lower the quality of the air in your home.
Is no air filter better than a dirty one?
Running your air conditioner without a filter is worse than running it with a dirty one. Instead, get to the store as soon as possible for a replacement or call an HVAC professional for replacement. Without a filter, your air conditioner is at risk for severe and expensive problems.
Why is my AC running but not cooling?
If your air conditioner is running, but not lowering temperatures inside, one issue could be a blocked or clogged condenser coil. When operating correctly, the condenser fan draws air into the outdoor unit through the condenser coil to pull heat energy out of your home.
Can I run my AC without a filter temporarily?
The short answer: You can get away with running your AC without a filter for a short period of time. However, doing so for longer than 6-8 hours can hurt your system and decrease your home's indoor air quality.
How often should you change your air conditioning filter?
about every 90 daysYou should replace these about every 90 days, if you have no allergies, but AC pros typically recommend every 45 days for max efficiency. Be sure to replace them with the right size and type of air filter. If your AC was working properly, you could remove the filter and buy one that is identical to it.
Can I run my AC without a filter for one day?
The short answer: You can get away with running your AC without a filter for a short amount of time without hurting your system. That being said, running your AC without a filter for longer than 6-8 hours can cause serious damage to your AC system and significantly lower the quality of the air in your home.
How often should the AC be cleaned?
A general rule of thumb is to clean or replace the filters once a month during the usage season. If you only run the air conditioner occasionally, you might be able to push this to every two months, but it is better to just get in the habit of doing it on the first day each month.
📘What happens if you don't clean the Air con filter?
If you do not change your air conditioner filter, it will begin to fail. It will no longer be able to filter the air well, let the dust and contami...
📘How do I know if my air con filter is dirty?
A clear sign that your air con filter should be replaced when the unit is the back is too hot. If the filter is very dirty, you can even feel the h...
📘How often should I clean my air con filter?
You must clean the filters of your air conditioner in the indoor unit every two weeks. In more dusty or polluted environments, you should clean you...
📘Can a dirty air filter cause air con not to cool?
Because of accumulation, a dirty filter also causes poor air circulation cold in your air conditioning system. This cold air will be trapped inside...
How do I know if my air con filter is dirty?
A clear sign that your air con filter should be replaced when the unit is the back is too hot. If the filter is very dirty, you can even feel the hot air coming out of the back of the unit. A dirty filter causes the air conditioner to work harder to keep the house cool.
How often should I clean my air con filter?
You must clean the filters of your air conditioner in the indoor unit every two weeks. In more dusty or polluted environments, you should clean your filters more often.
Can a dirty air filter cause air con not to cool?
Because of accumulation, a dirty filter also causes poor air circulation cold in your air conditioning system. This cold air will be trapped inside your air conditioner, causing the formation of ice on its coils. Once this happens, your air conditioner will freeze and become unusable.
Higher Electricity Cost
When the air filter in your AC is clogged or dusty, it may lead to increased energy consumption by up to 15%. If you don’t clean or change your AC’s air filter routinely, the unit will need more power to release and circulate cool air throughout your room.
Inadequate Cooling
One of the signs that your AC has a dirty air filter is when you experience hot and cold spots in your room even if your AC is set at the lowest temperature. Clogged air filters affect the unit’s cooling capacity because it experiences restricted airflow. This will make difficult it for you to reach the desired temperature levels inside your room.
Frozen Evaporator Coils
A clogged air filter restricts airflow in the air conditioning system. When this happens, air is prevented from flowing in and out of the system, which lowers the internal temperature of the unit. This will affect the capacity of the AC system to generate heat and result in the formation of ice on the evaporator coils.
Allergen Build-up
A clean air filter prevents dirt from accumulating inside your AC unit. When the air filter becomes dirty, it affects the overall indoor air quality. It also provides a home for allergens which may be harmful if you have relatives who are suffering from asthma or allergies.
Short-Cycling
Short-cycling occurs when your unit turns on and off in short, irregular bursts and fails to cool your room properly. When there is too much dirt on your AC’s filter, the AC unit exerts more effort to compensate for the lack of airflow.
What Happens When You Don’t Change Your Filter?
When air filters are not consistently changed, they get clogged by the buildup of particles and contaminants that stick to the filter. While the filter is designed to accommodate these minuscule items, the buildup creates an almost impenetrable barrier so that the air cannot completely flow through, which can ultimately cause multiple problems for the entire HVAC system.
How Often Should Filters Be Changed?
Most manufacturers recommend that basic filters are changed every 30 to 60 days, but there are other circumstances that could affect that schedule.
Why is my air conditioner freezing up?
Freezing Up. If you haven’t cleaned or replaced the filter in a while and your air conditioner just isn’t blowing cold air like it used to, it could mean the system has frozen up. Dirty filters restrict the flow of cold air which can cause it to build up inside the air conditioner.
Why does my fan stop working?
Well, if it gets into the moving parts, like fan motors or valves, it can cause them to jam up and stop working. As a result, the system can try to draw more power which can cause it to burn out completely or use more energy than it needs to. Freezing Up.
