3 Signs Your Air Conditioning Filter Needs Replacing
- By websitebuilder
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- 31 Jan, 2019
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You do not need to be an air conditioning technician to know when something has gone wrong with your cooling system. Your system sometimes gives you obvious signs that all is not well.
While you may not have the technical skills and experience to identify some problems, some issues, like air filter issues, are easier to diagnose. How can you tell when your system's air filter needs to be cleaned or replaced? The following signs will let you know.
1. A Musty Smell
If your cooled air has started to smell a bit off, then this can be a sign that your filter has reached the end of its life. The filter may be clogged up with dust, dirt and moisture.
This can cause a musty smell as air passes through the filter and spreads around the room or your home. The smell may be dusty or, if moisture has built up on or around the filter, mouldier.
2. Unusual Airflow and Temperatures
While air conditioners are supposed to produce air at a constant rate, filter problems can affect air production. This can change temperature or airflow levels.
For example, the air coming out of your unit may be colder or warmer than it should be. Or, you may not be getting as much air coming out as you usually do.
Your unit may also need to operate for longer than normal to create enough cool air. If this happens, you are also likely to have higher energy bills because of the extra time your unit is on.
Again, these problems can be down to an old filter. If the filter does not allow air to circulate in the system as it should, then this may affect the temperature and flow that comes out of the unit.
3. Odd Noises
Air conditioners should not make much noise when they run. If you can suddenly hear your unit operating when it used to be quiet, then the air filter may have a blockage.
When this happens, your unit cannot push air through the filter smoothly. The air gets blocked in the filter area rather than coming through the unit and out into the room.
The noise often comes from the filter itself. The air makes noises as it hits the fan and is blocked from passing through. Sometimes, a restriction in your filter makes other areas of your unit noisy if air does not circulate normally. The airflow may interfere with other parts of the system.
What to Do Next
Your air conditioning manual should tell you how to check your filter, so look at this first to see what you need to do. If your air filter needs cleaning or changing, then this should be obvious when you open up the unit.
If the filter looks dirty or has lots of dirt and dust, then you can see that you need to clean or replace it. If your filter does not look dirty or clogged up, then your system may have a more complex problem.
Remember to fix air conditioning units quickly when they develop persistent problems. A small problem in one part of a unit can often cause bigger, more complicated and expensive problems in other areas of the unit.
To get your air conditioning up and running smoothly again, contact Cool Air Conditioning Pty Ltd. We offer a full range of home air conditioning repair services from filter changes to more complex repairs and maintenance. We are also happy to answer all your questions, address your concerns and educate you about the problems your air conditioning system might have.
