5 Signs That Your Air Conditioner Filter May Be Causing Problems

5 Signs That Your Air Conditioner Filter May Be Causing Problems
By Donald Munn

In an effort to reduce indoor pollution in your home you may actually be impacting your air conditioner in a negative way. Installing a very efficient air conditioner filter is one of those things that can have a negative impact. A high efficiency air filter can negatively impact air conditioner performance. Your ultimate goal is to have the most efficient air conditioner filter possible while having the least impact air conditioner performance.

Five Signs Of Trouble:

1.Evaporator Coil Ices Up

2.Long Run Times

3.Poor Air Flow From The Vents

4.Collapsing Filters

5.Unit Stops Cooling For No Apparent Reason

The Evaporator Ices Up Every Couple Of Months Or Even More Often

This is a common problem with air conditioning equipment and is related to air flow or low load conditions. Air conditioners are designed to have a minimum amount of air flow for each ton of cooling. When air flow falls below design requirements the evaporator coil can ice up. If you are experiencing this problem you can use a slightly less efficient air filter. If this is only a problem every few months then all you need to do is change the filter in you air conditioner more frequently.

Long Run Time Means More Energy Consumption

This is a problem that you may or may not be aware of. If better air quality is more important than slightly higher operating costs then ignore this one, unless you are also experiencing symptom number one also. The solution to this problem is more frequent filter changes or a less efficient filter.

Poor Air Flow From The Vents

Assuming you have a properly sized duct system that has balanced air flow to all rooms you should feel the same amount of air coming from all vents. If you notice that air flow from the vents that are the farthest from the main duct line or on other floors begins to decline as filter change time approaches then you should consider changing your filter more often or using a less efficient filter.

Collapsing Filters

This can happen when filters are in the system too long and they become so dirty and restrict air flow so badly that they actually are sucked right out of the filter rack. More durable filters will stay in the filter rack and cause the same symptoms as number one above. The solution is to change filters more often, use better quality filters or both.

Unit Stops Cooling

Some air conditioner manufacturers install Freeze Stats in air handlers to prevent problems with icing up. When the evaporator temperature becomes too low, a thermostat will open and not allow the compressor to operate. When the evaporator temperature returns to its normal range the thermostat closes and the unit returns to normal operation.

These are some of the most common problems that you may encounter with your air conditioner. The solution to these problems is to change your air conditioner filter regularly, as recommended by the manufacturer. If following manufacturer guidelines does not correct the problem then you may want to consider a filter that has less of an impact on air flow.

For answers to all of your air conditioner filter questions visit us at http://www.furnacefiltercare.com. Take part in our surveys, ask for help or browse through our informative articles.

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5 Signs That Your Air Conditioner Filter May Be Causing Problems