Dusty air filters are one of the main causes of problems in your air conditioning unit. Clogged air filters affect the performance of your unit and its life span. When left untouched, it may damage some parts of your air conditioning unit.
Professionals at American Comfort Air explain that one of the most important tasks in AC maintenance is regularly cleaning or replacing its air filtration system. When the air filter is clogged, the normal airflow is obstructed, which affects the efficiency of the unit.
Below are some of the problems that you may encounter when you don’t clean or replace the air filter in your air conditioning unit.
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.
The air filter also acts as a barrier that protects the AC’s evaporator and condenser coils from dust build-up. If the air filter is left unclean, the air conditioner coils may also soil quickly and affect the unit’s performance.
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. Frozen evaporator coils can cause leakage or damage other parts of the unit.
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. A dirty air filtration system may also cause mold formation in the air ducts.
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. This also affects the performance of the other parts of the unit, like the blower and compressor which leads to short-cycling.
As mentioned above, routinely cleaning and replacing your AC’s air filter is a critical responsibility if you want your AC to perform efficiently. Lack of regular maintenance will lead to many problems in your AC that may eventually damage, or worse, leave the unit completely broken and useless.