Why You Shouldn't Ignore Wet Air Filters

1. Why​​​​You​​​​Shouldn't​​​​Ignore Wet​​​​Air​​​​Filters A wet air filter on your AC system might seem like a small, insignificant problem. The problem is that this is often a sign of a more serious problem and this is why it is important that as soon as you notice​​that​​you​​have​​a​​wet​​air​​filter,​​you​​should​​​get​​an​​AC​​repair​​service​​​out​​to​​check​​it​​out. Why​​​​do​​​​I​​​​have​​​​a​​​​Wet​​​​Air​​​​Filter? There are a few reasons why your air filter might be wet. The most common issue is that ​the condensate drain line is blocked​. When the AC unit cools the air, water is also produced, and this water goes into a bucket which then drains away. If this drain line is blocked it is only a matter of time before the bucket over-flows and the water can go all over the other parts of the AC unit – including​​the​​filter. There are other reasons why your air filter might be wet, including a low air flow – due to a dirty filter, or a low refrigerant (or refrigerant leak). These are both issues that would need to be looked at and​​fixed​​by​​an​​AC​​repair​​technician.

2. Why​​​​is​​​​it​​​​so​​​​Bad? A wet air filter needs to be investigated for a number of reasons, and the sooner that it is checked out​​and​​fixed​​the​​better. Of course, one of the main reasons is because AC filters are not meant to be wet. They are designed to work, dry, so they will not be as effective as they would be if they were wet than if they were dry. As well as the fact that your wet filter will be pumping out moist air into your home, it can also become a home for mould and mildew - not things that are healthy to be spreading around your home. Cleaning mould and mildew from your whole AC and heating system can be disruptive and expensive. Another big problem with water is that it gets everywhere, so it won’t stay localised for very long. Once that it has dripped on the filter, it can then ​make your whole system damp and wet​, which can then spread into your home. Damp carpets, walls and ceilings can be expensive to rectify and disruptive​​depending​​on​​the​​size​​of​​the​​task.

3. What​​​​Should​​​​I​​​​do​​​​to​​​​Avoid​​​​It? Of course, it is better to prevent the problem happening in the first place, but it is important that if you notice that you have a wet filter, you contact an AC repair technician to come and check it out and​​sort​​out​​whatever​​the​​problem​​might​​be. But how can you avoid it? The best way is to get your AC system regularly checked by an AC expert. They should be able to pick up on any potential problems before they can start to cause damage, and​​rectify​​it. By having your system checked regularly, as well as being aware of the state of your filters yourself, you can be sure to catch any problems before they happen, reducing the risk of the problems that are​​associated​​with​​wet​​AC​​filters.