A wet air filter is usually a sign that the condensate tray or condensate drain lines are clogged. Water is a natural by-product of a working air conditioner, as the system draws warm air from your home to cool it, moisture from the air condenses on the evaporator coils and then drips into the drain pan. The most likely cause of a damp air filter is a clogged condensate drain pipe. Other possible causes include water leaking from evaporator coils, and both air conditioners and high-efficiency gas ovens producing moisture during normal operation.
Normally, this moisture drains safely to the outside through a white PVC drain, called a “condensate drain line”.If the air conditioner filter is wet or feels damp and soggy when you are going to change it, there is a problem somewhere in the system itself. If you don't get to the root of the problem, the wet filter won't be able to remove dust and debris from the air and keep it out of the air conditioner. The most common reason an air conditioner leaks water is because a frozen evaporator coil has started to thaw. Clogged air filters are often the main cause of evaporator coil freezing, so it's important to replace the air filter at least once every 90 days. When you discover a wet air filter, remove it and dry the area. The only way to fix this is by replacing the filter and repairing the underlying cause of the wet air filter.
To prevent wet air filters, think of your filter as a rebounder that only allows good things (clean air and small particles) to enter your HVAC system and prevents bad things (large dust particles and harmful contaminants) from entering your HVAC system. Professional maintenance by a trained and trusted HVAC technician can also help prevent wet air filter problems. If you have a wet air conditioner filter and none of the above steps helped you resolve the problem, you can contact AND Services for all your HVAC repair needs.
