8 Reasons Why Your AC Filter Is So Dirty
- 1. Filter Type A common reason an air conditioner filter is really dirty is the type of filter used in the AC unit. ...
- 2. The Fan Settings AC filters can be dirty because of the fan settings. ...
- 3. Leaky Air Ducts ...
- 4. Presence Of Pets ...
- 5. Temperature Changes ...
- 6. Recent Construction Around Or Ongoing Renovations ...
- 7. Mold ...
- 8. House Activities ...
Why is my AC filter getting dirty so quickly?
When the thermostat's fan setting is set to “ON” the indoor blower will run 24/7, constantly circulating air over the air filter. So now the filter is constantly catching airborne contaminants, causing it to quickly get dirty.
What happens if your AC filter is dirty?
A dirty air filter restricts the flow of cold air, causing it to build up inside the air conditioner and lower the internal temperature. Given enough time, that buildup of cold air can eventually cause ice to form on the coils.
Why is my furnace filter dirty after 2 weeks?
You're using a filter that is too thick. The job of your filter is to catch contaminants as the air passes through, such as pet hair, dander, and dust. If you're using a heavy, pleated filter, it's going to catch more that tries to come through. Needless to say, the filter is going to get dirty fairly quickly.
What would cause an air filter to turn black?
Your air filter is black because of soot. Your air filter is black because of soot. This sounds scary, but, it's usually no big deal. The good news is that, if your filter is black with soot, it means it's doing its job.
Can I run my AC without a filter for one night?
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 AC filters be cleaned?
Clean or replace your air conditioning system's filter or filters every month or two during the cooling season. Filters may need more frequent attention if the air conditioner is in constant use, is subjected to dusty conditions, or you have fur-bearing pets in the house.
Why does my furnace filter gets black really quick?
Excess Amounts of Dirt and Debris – Including Soot The more there is, the quicker your air filter will become clogged. If you don't regularly check your furnace filter often, the sheer amount of dirt could make the air filter black. This is especially true if you burn candles or have a fireplace.
Why does furnace filter get dirty so fast?
Your filter gets clogged faster when your furnace is running more often. That's because more air is cycled through your filter when your furnace goes through more heating cycles, so more contaminants get caught on the filter's media. The colder it gets outside, the faster your filter will get clogged with dirt.
Why is my house so dusty?
Usually, a dusty house is because of a lack of airflow or a contaminated flow of air that carries millions of microparticles. These are largely dead skin cells, hair particles, pet dander, carpet fibers, clothing and upholstery, dust mite, bedding fragments, and outdoor pollutants.
Can a black air filter make you sick?
You get air filter black mold. As soon as you notice air filter black mold, dispose of the filters! Mold can make you and your family very ill. Symptoms of sickness from mold can include a sore throat, stuffy nose, coughing, wheezing and eye irritation.
How dirty should an air filter look?
If your air filter is clean, it should be white or off-white. Over time, as dust and dirt accumulate on it, the air filter will get darker and the dirt will be noticeable. When it starts looking dark and grimy, you might be due for a replacement.
What happens if you put an air filter in backwards?
By installing your filter backwards, air will have a harder time flowing through the filter and your air handler will have to work harder to make up for the loss of airflow. This could lead to higher utility bills and possibly damage your furnace or air conditioner.
What happens if I don't clean my 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 are the symptoms of a clogged air filter?
8 Dirty Air Filter Symptoms: How to Know When to Clean Your Air...Air Filter Appears Dirty. ... Decreasing Gas Mileage. ... Your Engine Misses or Misfires. ... Strange Engine Noises. ... Check Engine Light Comes On. ... Reduction in Horsepower. ... Flames or Black Smoke from Exhaust Pipe. ... Strong Fuel Smell.
What happens if you dont change 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 HVAC system. Dust jams the moving parts of an AC such as fan motors and valves. Airflow is restricted which creates a strain on the system.
How do I know if my air filter needs changing?
6 Signs You Need a New Car Air FilterIt Looks Dirty. ... Your Car Doesn't Have as Much Power. ... You're Paying More at the Pump. ... You Smell Gas When You Start Your Car. ... Flames or Black Smoke Come From the Tailpipe. ... The Check Engine Light Comes On.
Why is my AC not working?
If you are having AC problems, such as break downs or reduced power, check your air filter first. If there’s dust from before Y2K on it, that’s probably the reason.
What causes a clogged AC system?
The first is an air duct leak. If you have holes in the pipes and ducts that carry air around your house, dirt and dust of outdoors, your attic, or your insulation can easily work their way into your system. Once it’s in there, it’s got to go somewhere. Typically, this dust comes to rest in your air filter. This can clog it up fast, and then break your AC.
How to reduce air quality?
There are two solutions to this. The first is to use a less fine filter. While this may reduce your air quality, it can save you money by allowing you to change filters less frequently. This in turn reduces the strain of clogged filters on your AC system.
Can you put a plant near an AC vent?
The other variation of this is more innocent. Sometimes, our interior design skills are less than perfect. If you’ve placed a potted plant near an intake for your AC system, it could very well be sending dirt into your system. The same is true of vents near curtains, corners, or anything else that tends to collect dust.
Why do pleated air filters get dirty?
One-inch pleated filters quickly get dirty because they’re designed to catch more airborne contaminants. Think of 1-inch pleated air filters as a fine fish net with a very small gaps: it catches everything from big to small fish, but that also means the net fills up with fish faster (say that 3 times fast).
Why does my air conditioner keep clogging up?
Your air conditioner filter keeps clogging up too quickly, so you have to keep changing it and changing it and changing it.
What causes a return duct to clog?
Leaks in the return ductwork pull in dust from unconditioned spaces —like an attic or crawl space— and quickly clog the filter, especially if your filter located near your AC’s inside unit, like in this picture:
How to improve indoor air quality?
Solution: Switch to a cheap disposable fiberglass filter or thicker pleated filters. If you’re serious about improving your home’s indoor air quality, consider installing an air cleaner instead.
Why does my thermostat blower get dirty?
When the thermostat’s fan setting is set to “ON” the indoor blower will run 24/7 , constantly circulating air over the air filter. So now the filter is constantly catching airborne contaminants, causing it to quickly get dirty.
Do duct leaks run up your energy bills?
Duct leaks also run up your energy bills month after month.
Can pet hair clog filter?
Got cats and/or dogs? Pet hair and dander will quickly clog up your filter in no time.
What happens if a filter is clogged?
A clogged filter can cause a variety of problems, including expensive breakdowns and system inefficiencies.
Why is my fan blowing air?
Your fan may be trying to push air through a filter clogged with dirt, dust, hair, and allergens. That could mean higher than normal energy bills, premature wear and tear on your system, and contaminated air for your family to breathe.
Why is it important to change the filter on your HVAC system?
It’s important to regularly change your HVAC filter during both the heating and cooling seasons as this is when your furnace and air conditioner work hardest to keep your home comfortable. A clogged filter means there is obstructed air flow. A clogged filter can cause a variety of problems, including expensive breakdowns and system inefficiencies.
Why is my fan always running?
A fan that’s always running may catch more airborne contaminants in the filter, but it also means you’ll need to change your filter more frequently. You’re using a filter that is too thick. The job of your filter is to catch contaminants as the air passes through, such as pet hair, dander, and dust.
Can a pleated air filter get dirty?
If you’re using a heavy, pleated filter, it’s going to catch more that tries to come through. Needless to say, the filter is going to get dirty fairly quickly. Holes in your ductwork. If there are leaks in your home’s ducts, air may be pulled in from areas, such as your attic or basement. This air may be contaminated with more dust which will clog ...
Why does my filter clog up so fast?
Here are some of the typical reasons why a filter will clog faster than average: Pet hair. If you have one or more shedding pets in the home, this is almost certainly contributing to your fuzzy filter. Daily vacuuming and weekly pet brushing can go a long way toward reducing this problem. Your fan is set to “on”.
What happens if your fan is set to auto?
Extreme temperatures. Even if your fan is set to “auto”, extreme hot or cold weather will keep your system running almost continuously. You may need to shorten your replacement intervals until the seasons change.
How to get rid of particles in HVAC system?
A more effective solution is to supplement your HVAC system with an air purification system . This system will remove any particles on its own before they can reach your HVAC filter. You should consider air purification if someone in your home has severe allergies or a respiratory condition, or if you have multiple pets.
What does it mean when the thermostat is on?
Your fan is set to “on”. There should be two fan settings on your thermostat -- “on” and “auto”. When the fan is set to “auto”, it only blows when your system is actively heating or cooling your home. But when it’s set to “on”, it runs continuously, which means air is passing through that filter 24/7. Switching to the other setting will help you ...
Is it good to replace a filter on schedule?
But sometimes, “on schedule” just isn’t good enough. If you check your filter at replacement time and find that it’s completely covered in dust, hair and other particles, you might start wondering what causes it to clog up prematurely.
Is fiberglass filter better than pleated filter?
An inexpensive fiberglass filter will let smaller particles pass through, so it won’t clog up as quickly as a thick, pleated filter that will catch those particles. Thicker isn’t always better -- it will make your home’s air cleaner and fresher, but it accelerates the wear on your HVAC fan and may lower your system’s energy efficiency. ...
Why is my air filter not dirty?
As much as it stinks, having a dirty filter is a good thing because all that dust isn’t circulating around in your home. If your filter is clean after one to three months, ...
What to do if your air conditioner filter isn't dirty?
If your filter isn’t dirty despite your air conditioning seeing regular use, then you should inspect the filter to make sure it is installed correctly. If it is, and you aren’t making any efforts to keep dust out of your house, call a professional to make sure nothing is wrong with your air conditioning.
Why is it important to have a clean air filter?
While having a clean filter might seem great, because you don’t have to replace it, all the dust and allergens are floating around your home. The dirtier a filter gets, the better you should feel because all that gunk isn’t inside your home or your lungs. If a filter isn’t working, then your air isn’t getting cleaned.
What is a filter in an air conditioner?
A filter is designed to catch all the air that goes through your air conditioning. Because of this, it needs to fit snugly inside the holder to have a chance at catching the air. If the filter is not installed correctly, then the air can flow around the filter and not into it.
What happens if a filter is placed upside down?
If the filter is placed upside down, then its effectiveness is reduced. Make sure that you are using the best filter for the job as well. Some filters are too thin, and particles pass right through them, while others aren’t built up to the same standards and won’t filter out certain particles.
What happens if your AC filter is broken?
This can cause damage and reduce its effectiveness. Calling a professional to take a look at your AC unit can help to give you a deeper look at any potential problems. If your AC is broken, then you can get it fixed, and the filter should start working again.
Can a dirty air filter cause problems?
Just like how dirty filters can clog up an air conditioning system and cause problems, clean ones can too. If the dirt and dust are flowing around the filter or isn’t getting caught when it goes through the filter, it often gets into the works of your AC. This can cause damage and reduce its effectiveness.
