6 AC Problems Caused by Dirty Air Conditioner

Is it time to clean your AC? Call 201-571-1715 to schedule AC maintenance with our team at Gladiator Services and restore clean air to your home.

Because your air conditioner blows cool air into your home, a dirty air conditioner means dirty air circulates throughout your home. When dirt and grime get inside your AC, you'll notice more warning signs other than dusty air. Recognizing these symptoms will let you know when to call Franklin Lakes' air conditioning repair professionals.

1. Inadequate Cooling

A dirty air filter is a prime suspect when your AC is unable to deliver adequate cooling. Whether your unit uses washable filters or disposable filters, you can handle this task yourself. Air filters typically occupy a slot or drawer on the air handler, the indoor cabinet of your AC system.

If your unit uses reusable filters, follow your owner’s manual instructions for vacuuming or washing. For units that use disposable filters, copy the specs from the manual. Most home improvement stores maintain a ready stock of disposable filters. Do not attempt to clean and reuse a disposable air filter.

With a clean filter in place, use your smartphone’s calendar app to program a reminder for the next filter change.

How Dirty Condenser Coils Impact AC Efficiency

Accumulated dirt on condenser coils can also impair a unit’s cooling efficiency. These coils are inside the outdoor unit condenser of your HVAC system. In a typical split system, refrigerant circulates between the outdoor condenser coil and the indoor evaporator coil. Your condenser unit’s fan blows air across the coil, transferring heat to the outdoor air.

Even a thin layer of dirt can impair the condenser coil’s efficiency. Unlike an air filter, this cleaning task is best left to a professional. Having a certified HVAC professional clean your condenser coil during an annual spring checkup will aid in cooling and lower your electric bill.

2. Poor Air Quality

Poor air quality indicates dirt or dust accumulation somewhere in your HVAC system. You may have dirt buildup on your filter, in your ductwork, or both.

If poor air quality persists after a filter change, your next move is an air duct cleaning by a licensed professional. Zoned HVAC systems use automatic dampers within the ductwork to manage the temperature for each zone. While a boon for energy efficiency, these dampers collect debris, making regular duct cleanings a wise move.

If one or more of your family members continues to suffer from allergies due to inadequate air quality, talk to a professional HVAC service professional about installing a whole-home air filtration system.

3. Water Pools

Water pooling below your indoor AC unit may signal a frozen evaporator coil. This coil receives cooled refrigerant from the outdoor condenser coil. If ice accumulates during your AC’s operation, it will begin to melt shortly after the unit completes a cooling cycle and goes idle. This water will make its way to your unit’s drain pan or floor.

Dirt can lead to frozen evaporator coils in three ways:

• Dirty air conditioner filters
• Dirt and dust in the ductwork
• Dirt accumulation on the coils’ surface 

Nearly every AC unit includes a removable panel to permit inspection of the evaporator coil. If you see ice on coils, running your HVAC system in fan-only mode will speed up the thawing process. If icing reoccurs with a new filter and clean ducts, call an HVAC professional. A certified technician can either clean the coils or diagnose one of several other causes.

Drain Line Clogs

Another cause for puddles is dirt clogging the indoor unit’s condensate drain line. Air conditioners generate water condensation in normal use. The condensate drain line carries this water to your home’s drainage system. Drain line inspections are a routine item for an HVAC checkup, providing another reason to head off trouble with regular appointments.

4. Rising Electric Bills

If your latest electric bill jumps without a stretch of unusually warm weather, this may be your first signal of a dirty air conditioner. A dirty filter, duct, refrigerant coil, or fan can all impair an AC’s efficiency.

Besides dirt, refrigerant leaks and control board malfunctions can degrade your system's performance. If you have already cleaned your filters and ducts, call an HVAC professional to diagnose the issue.

5. Short Cycling

Another symptom of dirty air filters is short cycling. In this circumstance, your unit will run for abnormally brief spurts and then shut down before reaching your thermostat setting.

Your air conditioner unit includes several sensors to detect overheating components. If any of these sensors trigger, your HVAC control board will shut down the system until all sensors return to the safe range.

With short cycling, the blower motor heat sensor may be the cause. A dirty air filter increases the workload for this motor.

Caked-on dirt clogging the blower’s vanes can also stress the motor. This accumulated dirt impairs the fan’s balance, which leads to excess motor bearing wear, shortening the motor's service life.

If short cycling persists after an air filter change, call an HVAC professional. Short cycling lessens the service life of several AC components.

6. No Operation

With an older air conditioning system, dirt may cause the blower motor to burn out without triggering the overheating sensor. With this motor out of action, neither heating, cooling, nor simple ventilation will occur.

For a failed blower motor, replacement is the only cure. If you have an older air conditioning unit, you may wish to explore replacing your entire system to upgrade to a more energy-efficient model. The lower electric bills from a new system may well make the change a wise investment.

Your Air Conditioner Problem Solvers

What is central air conditioning? How much could I save with a new unit? Is my home a good candidate for a heat pump? Our team here at Gladiator Services is ready to answer your questions. To clean a dirty air conditioner or tackle any other home climate system, call us today at 201-571-1715.