Can a Dirty Air Filter Cause Your House to Not Cool?

Inadequate cooling can cause uncomfortable and warm temperatures in your home. This is due to the buildup of a dirty filter, which will also cause poor cold air flow in the air conditioning system. This trapped cold air will cause ice to form on your coils, leading to the air conditioner freezing and ceasing to work. Before this happens, there are some signs you should look out for.

One of them is uneven cooling throughout the house. If you notice that some rooms are harder to cool than others, while others are constantly feeling cold, you should check your air conditioning filter first. An overheated air conditioner can be a sign of a clogged air filter. If the AC filter is dirty, the air conditioning unit will have to work harder when turned on to keep the room cool.

This will put more pressure on the air conditioner, causing it to produce a lot of heat. When the airflow is hampered by a dirty or clogged air filter, it means that your system has to work harder to cool your home, resulting in higher energy bills. A clear sign that the AC filter needs to be replaced is when the back of the unit is too hot. If the filter is heavily soiled, you may feel warm air coming out the back of the unit.

A clogged filter forces the air conditioner to work harder to keep the house cool, leading to more frequent repairs and a shorter life for the unit. Reducing this load can be done by simply changing the AC filter regularly. A dirty air filter creates a layer of dirt, dust and dander that restricts the amount of air that the air conditioner receives and puts pressure on the blower. If this is not the problem, an experienced HVAC service technician should investigate and perform necessary maintenance.

After washing the air filter, rinse it with clean, warm water and shake it to drain excess water trapped in the filter. Changing or cleaning your air filter is one of the most important steps you can take to maintain your air conditioner, as it avoids all of these potential problems, improves energy efficiency, and helps you avoid spending money on repairs. If your air conditioner has a reusable filter, you'll need to handle it with care to ensure it keeps your air conditioner running at peak efficiency. Replacing air filters is an easy and affordable step you can take compared to the cost of repairing or potentially replacing your HVAC system. Regularly replacing your air filter is an easy step you can take to extend the life of one of the biggest investments in your home. If the filter becomes too clogged with dust, dander, and debris, then the blower has to work harder to pass air through the blocked filter.