Why Is My Furnace Filter Black?

Checking your furnace filter only to find that it has turned completely black is alarming, to say the least. Though it does occur, this isn’t normal. A black furnace filter indicates that something is amiss in your system or home. Here are some of the probable causes.

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide is an odorless and invisible gas that originates from incomplete combustion. It is known to commonly cause soot deposits on the furnace filter, which could be one of the reasons why you’ve noticed the black color there. Some of the common sources of carbon monoxide include a leaky gas fireplace, vehicle exhaust in the adjacent garage or the furnace itself. This substance is poisonous, and the problem should be addressed immediately.

Mold Growth

During summer, the evaporator coil is likely to become damp due to condensation. If the dirt collected in the furnace is left wet for an extended period, sooty mold can develop and later spread to the furnace filter. Many of the central heating systems that are not cleaned regularly have grown mold, which causes the filter to have a black color. Integrity Heating & Cooling offers HVAC filter cleaning throughout the Charlotte and Denver areas.

Candle Soot

Burning excess candles could lead to the accumulation of soot on the filter. Although candles produce little soot, it could have accumulated for several months before you noticed it. Note that this soot is just a small proportion of what the candle is producing. Most of it is on the walls, floors or already breathed in by the occupants of the house.

Clogged Air Filter

If neither mold nor soot is causing your air filter to have a black color, then it is probably severely clogged. When an air filter is clogged, it restricts airflow in the house. If you notice poor air quality in the home, you need to replace the filter because it is no longer performing a useful function.

At Integrity Heating & Cooling, we have a highly trained crew of professionals who can assist you with any heating, cooling or air quality issue you encounter. We perform maintenance, repairs and installations throughout Charlotte and Denver as well as ductwork and diagnostics. We put in generators too. If you’ve noticed that your air filter is black, call us today. Our experts will determine the cause. The health of your family is the top priority.

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