Your air conditioner contains an air filter, which is designed to protect it from the dust and debris that inhabits your ducts. The air filter may be a small part, but it serves a big role in your air conditioner. The filter needs to be cleaned out every few months, in order to keep operating properly. Read on to find out what happens if you don’t have your air filter cleaned out often enough.
Clogs
The air filter is a fiber mesh, which is installed in the air return duct of your air conditioner. Contaminants that are carried along by the air flow will become snared in the fibers of the filter, preventing them from harming the air conditioner. The problem is that air filters have no way of getting rid of the contaminants they collect. If they aren’t cleaned or replaced every three months or so, they will become clogged. This will cause some serious issues for the air conditioner.
Problems
A clogged air filter cuts down significantly on the amount of air moving into the air conditioning system. This will cause the temperature of the air around the evaporator coil to drop significantly, until the part freezes over. While the evaporator coil is frozen over, it will be unable to properly siphon thermal energy from the air. This will cause your system output to drop. The ice can also grow so heavy that it warps the evaporator coil, requiring that it be replaced. Finally, the ice can spread down the refrigerant line to other parts of the system, causing them to malfunction and break down.
Douglas Cooling & Heating offers comprehensive air conditioning repair services throughout Shelby County, AL. If you need air conditioning services of any kind, call today to schedule an appointment with one of our experts.
