If there is a lot of dust, pet dander, or other particles inside your home, your air filter can get dirty very quickly. Construction, renovations, or a lot of pollution outside can also cause your filter to clog quickly.
You have many guests and/or pets
And the more contaminants floating around in your home, the faster your filter gets dirty. What to do: Consider investing in a whole home air filtration system. These advanced filtration systems pick up the contaminants left behind by guests and pets but also have a long service life.
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. Better to have soot on your air filter than in your lungs, right?
If your fan is on 24 hours a day, more air is circulating through your system, carrying more contaminants with it. These means your filters are picking up dirt at a faster rate than usual. Try switching the thermostat fan setting from ON to AUTO.
We like to recommend replacing your filter once every 3 months. However, if you're seeing a filter completely covered in dust, hair, dander, and dirt at the 3-month mark – you may need to take additional steps to make sure your filter isn't getting too clogged too quickly.
Dirty air filters cause your AC to operate at a lower efficiency which means it does not cool your house as well as it should, and can end up costing you more money in the long run.
How Often Do I Need to Change Out My Air Filter? Generally, most air filter manufacturers and HVAC companies recommend changing your air filter every 90 days, or 3 months. That can change based on where your home is located (ex. dusty, dry climates), if you have any pets, and the age of your system and equipment.
If there is a lot of dust, pet dander, or other particles inside your home, your air filter can get dirty very quickly. Construction, renovations, or a lot of pollution outside can also cause your filter to clog quickly.
How Often Should You Clean Your Air Conditioner's Filter? It is recommended that you check your air conditioner's filter every 15 days, cleaning it at least once a month during the peak months of usage.
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.
For most homeowners, black air filters aren't a cause for panic. They simply mean that you need to increase the frequency that you change your air filters, and that the filter is doing its job.
How You Can Maintain Your AC Filter. While dirty air filters can stop an AC from working, there are many ways to keep your air conditioner well taken care of and working efficiently for a longer time.
Black Soot Deposition
Black soot can quickly turn our air filters black. This is usually a result of burning candles. Candles are made of carbon-based materials that don't all combust when burned. They end up producing tiny soot particles which then get into our carpet, on our furniture, and in our air filters.
When the air filter goes bad, one of two things usually happen. The first is not nearly enough oxygen gets to the combustion chamber, which causes the engine to run rich with too much fuel. That means you are getting less than optimal burn of the atomized fuel and are losing lower as well as fuel economy.
Even if your filter appears clean, those tiny particles can still accumulate and clog it up over time. Changing your filters every 3 months is the way to maintain proper airflow, efficient operation, and great indoor air quality throughout your home.
Is my AC not working because of the filter? Potentially, yes. While there are a whole host of issues that could cause problems with your air conditioning system, a dirty air filter should be the first thing to check if your central air conditioning unit isn't working as properly as it should.
Infrequent Cleaning & Dusting
Keeping your home clean actually has a serious impact on your air filter. The more often you dust, sweep, mop, vacuum, and polish various surfaces of your home, the longer your air filter will last.
If your AC becomes dirty, then you will likely begin to have problems with allergies. Allergies can be triggered by a variety of things including plants and pollen. The air quality in your home is a direct reflection of this as poor air quality means that there are potentially more allergens in your home.
Air Conditioner Filters
Replacing a dirty filter with a clean one helps your air conditioner operate efficiently, removes particulates from the air, and protects your system from dirt buildup, which can cause it to fail prematurely.
Extreme Temperatures Temperatures outside being hotter or colder than expected can cause your system to run longer, cycling more air through your furnace or air conditioner. When more air is being pushed through the system by the blower motor man, naturally the filter is going to capture more dirt and clog faster.
Turn the unit off. Turning this off prevents the air from blowing dust and grit into your system. Open up your vent and remove the used filter. Make sure the Air Flow Arrows are pointing toward the HVAC Unit.
The simple answer is: not for long. Ideally, your AC should never operate without a filter for more than 6-8 hours. Going beyond this can negatively affect both your system's health and your home's air quality.
If you don't change your air filter, it can quickly become clogged with dust and debris, preventing proper air filtration. This leads to a variety of issues for your HVAC system including system inefficiency, higher energy bills, inadequate air quality, and ultimately failure.