If you have an air conditioner installed in your Bay Area home, one of your most important maintenance tasks is to change your air filter. We recommend that you check your air filter once a month, but we also understand that this sometimes slips homeowners’ minds. Today we’re going to talk about some of the most common symptoms of a clogged air filter so that you can understand the importance of changing your filter and recognize when a dirty filter might be to blame for air conditioning problems.
4 common symptoms of a clogged air filter
- 1. Unusually high energy bill. When your air filter is clogged, your air handler has to work extra hard to maintain proper airflow in your home. The harder your air handler has to work, the more energy your system will consume. If you receive an energy bill that is significantly higher than you expected, a dirty filter might be to blame.
- 2. Home won’t properly cool. Along with causing airflow issues, a dirty filter can allow dirt to build up on your system components. In both scenarios, the cooling process will be hindered and your air conditioner will have a difficult time maintaining your thermostat’s temperature setting. That’s why if your home is not cooling properly, one of the first things you’ll want to check is the condition of your air filter.
- 3. System overheating. Any time a part of your cooling system has to work harder than usual, it runs the risk of overheating. A clogged air filter can have this effect on your air handler as well as your compressor. Often times overheating can cause your system to shut down or cycle on and off too frequently, which will make it difficult to keep your home cool.
- 4. Frozen evaporator coil. Your air conditioner’s evaporator coil absorbs heat from your home’s air in order to cool it down before it is cycled back to your living spaces. If a clogged air filter is restricting airflow to your system, your evaporator coil won’t have enough heat to absorb and the condensation that normally builds up on the coil can freeze over it.
If you have any questions about the symptoms of a clogged air filter, or if you’d like a cooling system serviced or installed in your home, contact Cabrillo, your Bay Area plumbing, heating and air conditioning company.