What Causes House Air Filter to Turn Black?

The main purpose of your air filter is to trap dust particles and other debris in the air. The more there is, the faster the air filter will clog. If you don't check your oven filter often, the large amount of dirt could cause the air filter to darken.

Black soot

For the most part, burning candles is harmless, but accumulating excess soot from candles can make the air filter less efficient overall. While the best option is to stop lighting candles, you don't have to give up your love for candles just yet. Gas water heaters can also produce black soot. If you have a gas water heater, make sure that the flame color is blue, indicating a clean burn.

If the flame flickers, there may be a problem. While black soot is not a good sight on the air filter, mold is worse. When you start up your air conditioning system, condensation accumulates in the evaporator coil (especially in humid conditions such as the old Sunshine State). This moisture can be transferred to the air filter, where black mold can start to grow.

Soot is a by-product of burning candles and one of the most common ways to turn the air filter into black. Most often, it is caused by candles or gas water heaters. Scented candles, especially, are usually good culprits of black soot deposition because they contain more “impurities” that do not burn properly. Humid areas are prone to mold growth and Florida's air conditioning systems can provide the perfect habitat for it.

Mold can make you and your family seriously ill and symptoms of mold disease may include sore throat, stuffy nose, cough, wheezing, and eye irritation. Immediately replace moldy filters with fresh air filters and schedule an appointment with your local HVAC technician. Scented candles can add a relaxing touch to your home but they can also be the culprits of black soot in air filters. The build-up of excess soot from candles can decrease the efficiency of your air filters.

All you have to do is cut the candle wicks to a quarter of an inch before lighting them. This will prevent the candles from leaving black soot on the air filters. You can also try all-natural candles made from soy, which will help reduce soot. Maybe neither mold nor soot are to blame and if that's the case, you're probably dealing with a clogged air filter.

Your air conditioning filter will most likely turn black due to a phenomenon called “Black Soot Deposition”. In many ways, the air filter helps to reveal the health of your home and you don't want to postpone a checkup for a long time. Air filters are a crucial component of your air conditioning system and if you've noticed that you have black air filters, don't delay fixing the problem. If you find mold growing on your air filter, it is important to dispose of it immediately and replace the air filter in your air conditioner.

In addition, while your system will not work effectively, it will continue to work for long periods of time and will deteriorate due to increased air tension that cannot easily pass through the filter. Not only are air filters responsible for preventing debris from infiltrating the rooms in your home but they also extend or shorten the life of your HVAC system. If you've noticed your air filters turning black, don't wait to solve the problem.