All filters are made in the USA – Order Today
All filters are made in the USA – Order Today
There’s nothing more inconvenient than when your HVAC system stops working. Most issues with an HVAC system failure are actually rooted in its air filter, which clarifies the air before delivering.
Your air filter must remain cool and dry for it to operate properly. If your air filter is wet, it can lead to bigger issues within the HVAC system, such as mold or reduced power. Typically, these filters get wet due to condensation.
A wet air filter is a problem that requires you to act fast, but you must learn the causes, effects, and solutions first. Keep reading to learn more about why your air filter is wet and how you can fix the problem.
In most cases, air filters get wet due to a clogged drainage system in your HVAC system. The AC sends freon through the coils to cool it down, which can make the coils’ pipes very cold. As a result, the pipes produce condensation, which looks for a way to drain out.
Ideally, this condensation should drip down the attached drain pipe or into a pan. Then, the water exits your home via the piping system. In this case, the condensation will only create a small patch of moisture outside your home.
However, if the system isn’t working properly, the condensation collects in the air filter and results in mold, system failures, and reduced power.
A wet filter is a problem you need to tend to immediately. Otherwise, you may face issues like mold, reduced AC power, and a broken AC system.
A wet air filter can encourage the growth of mold in your home. Out of all things unclean and gross, mold is the worst thing to let grow in your home. Aside from being generally smelly and unsanitary, mold can also be dangerous.
If you leave it unattended, mold can cause allergies, issues with your respiratory, and in the worst-case scenario, permanent lung, and brain damage. A wet air filter creates a welcoming environment for mold to grow, so you must tend to it immediately.
Plus, mold grows rapidly and is resilient against simple home remedies. So the ideal way to prevent mold growth is by replacing your air filter with a new, dry one.
Running your HVAC system with a wet air filter is the worst thing you can do for its performance. Unfortunately, this problem doesn’t go away by itself and creates more issues within the AC. Eventually, it will break.
When your AC system is trying to deliver cool air, the wet air filter will create unnecessary strain, resulting in broken parts. Repairs are costly, and replacements are even more expensive. In fact, a new HVAC system costs somewhere between $4,860 and $9,400.
Short cycling is another problem a wet air filter can cause. Most HVAC systems are equipped with sensors that allow them to turn off when your home reaches the desired temperature. Unfortunately, the wet air filter won’t allow your home to reach that temperature.
Once the AC system recognizes that, it will automatically turn back on. Then, it will repeatedly switch on and off, which can be detrimental to its performance. Plus, it makes an annoying repetitive sound that no one wants to deal with!
Your AC requires much more power and moving parts to starting up than you think. Generating this power repeatedly and unnecessarily wears down your AC system, leading a part to break sooner or later.
Wet air filters can also cause your AC systems to freeze. This is because the air trapped in the AC needs enough room to circulate, so the cooling unit can actually do its job. A wet air filter will prevent the air from moving as fast as it should, leading to frozen drainage pipes and freon.
This system freeze is worsened by what causes your wet air filter: the condensation gathering on the evaporation coils. This moisture can cling to the AC’s parts and expand when frozen.
Eventually, the AC’s pipes will burst and spray freon and water everywhere. Not only is this a hassle to clean up, but you’ll also be dealing with expensive repairs, all without air conditioning!
Air filters clog your AC and affect its performance significantly. As a result, its power is extremely limited since only a little air pass through the system at a time. This becomes especially noticeable on warmer days when you need to keep your AC on longer.
For example, if your AC is on continuously at 74 degrees, the system won’t receive enough air to feel like it’s 74 degrees. So instead, you may feel more like it’s 78 degrees, causing you to turn the AC down to 70 degrees.
As a result, you’ll be spending more on your electricity bill because of your wet air filter.
If you have a wet air filter, here’s what you can do to fix it:
Additionally, you can take certain preventive measures to avoid a wet air filter in the future. For example, you must change the air filter according to the manufacturer’s instructions, as it can prevent clogs and condensation.
It’s also better to invest in high-quality filters that catch finer particles and last longer than cheaper options. Your HVAC technician may guide you about which air filter works best for your AC system.
You can also ensure regular maintenance and clean-up for the drain and drip pans, looking out for clogs and cracks.
A wet air filter may seem like a small issue, but it can actually lead to expensive repairs, short cycling, reduced AC power, mold, system freeze, and even a broken HVAC system. Typically, air filters get wet used to condensation from clogged drain pipes.
You can solve the issue by replacing your air filter and unclogging the drain. However, if the problem persists, it’s best to call your HVAC technician.
Have any questions? We’re here and ready to help!
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