Why Is My AC Filter Not Getting Dirty?

To change your home’s temperature, the AC sucks in air from outside, pulls it over the coil, cools or chills it, and blows it into your room.

There is an air filter stationed at the point where the air is sucked and pulled into the system. This air filter traps airborne particles that get sucked into the system.

However, the air filter can get dirty and clogged sometimes, but it is also possible that the AC filter is not getting dirty. This raises the question of why an AC filter may not get dirty after months.

In this article, we have compiled a list of various reasons your AC filter is not getting dirty. This article will also help you troubleshoot what is wrong with your home’s AC, filter, or overall condition.

6 Reasons Your AC Filter Is Not Getting Dirty

Even though your AC unit is working, you should always keep an eye out for the air filter. A clean air filter is essential to ensure the unit’s proper operation.

Cleaning the air filter has several advantages, and if you can’t remember the last time you cleaned yours because it is always clean, inspect the following areas:

1. The Filter Is Not Installed Correctly

One of the most common reasons your air filter isn’t dirty or collecting dust is that it is not installed correctly. The filter should fit right in front of the air intake vent to collect dirt and air particles from the incoming air.

The filter will only work best if it sits perfectly, leaving no open areas or gaps.

If the filter is loosely fitted, with openings and gaps, it will not filter the incoming air properly. As such, the air filter does not collect any impurities in the air.

So, paying attention to the air filter when installing it is vital. Most AC filters have arrows imprinted on their frame, showing you the proper orientation to install them. Other than this, ensure the filter is snuggly fit in its holder.

2. Filter Has a Low Merv Rating

Another reason the air filter is not dirty could be that you have one with a low MERV rating. MERV, or Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, is a rating system that measures the size of particles the filter can collect.

If the MERV rating is too low, air particles will easily pass through it.

The filter can have a score anywhere between 1 to 16; the higher the score, the better its filtration capability. Cheap filters often have a MERV rating between 1 to 4, which is advisable to avoid.

Instead, go for filters with a MERV rating of 6 and above, which can filter out 49.9% of dust and air pollutants.

3. AC Isn’t Working

If you installed the AC correctly and used the right MERV filter, but the air filter still doesn’t get dirty, it can be because the AC is faulty.

A faulty AC, particularly at the air intake vent, can affect the air change rate reducing the amount of air the AC takes in.

When your AC does not draw enough air into the system, the filter will not be exposed to much dirty air. As such, the filter will remain relatively clean. Of course, a faulty AC shows symptoms such as reduced cooling efficiency.

When your AC isn’t cooling your space as it should, it is a sign that something is wrong, and you should call a technician.

4. You Use the AC Infrequently

When you rarely use your AC minimal amount of air gets drawn into the filter; hence, it remains cleaner.

The filter only collects as much dirt and debris as is in the air. And the quantity of dirt and debris often increases with exposure to more air.

In such cases, it will take a more extended period before the filter is exposed to too much dirt that it will be apparent.

While regular AC users may have to change their filters every month or two, infrequent AC users will have to change them every 4 to 5 months.

5. Dust Doesn’t Reach the AC

If you installed your AC in a relatively clean area, you would hardly have to change the filter. If the room is idle with few activities, the dust will settle on the furniture and not reach the AC filter.

Or if your room is very airy, the dust will get tossed around, preventing it from reaching the AC filter.

Situations where the dust doesn’t get to the AC, are also common in rooms with many electronic appliances.

The electrical devices cause the dirt and dust to gain static electric charge, thus keeping them clung to charged surfaces rather than floating in the air.

6. You Have a Clean House

Finally, when your house is clean, it helps to prolong the filter’s lifespan as less dust gets to the AC to filter out. Although, be aware that the AC filter is designed to sieve macro dust, not super tiny particles.

As such, your routine cleaning, such as sweeping, vacuuming, mopping, and so on, gets rid of those macros particles, such as pet hair, lint, pollen, and so on; the air filter would have otherwise captured that.

As a result, there will be little to nothing for the AC filter to collect when your home is clean for a long time.

Conclusion

Overall, when your filter doesn’t get dirty after a month or two of use, you should check if it is installed correctly.

Also, check if the MERV rating of the filter is suitable for you when it doesn’t filter as much dirt as you expect from the air.

As elaborated in this article, there are other reasons your filter might not get dirty. If you maintain your AC correctly, you will pick up on most of the issues on time that may arise, causing your air filter to stay clean.