Is it Safe To Run My AC Without a Filter?

Is it Safe To Run My AC Without a Filter?

For safety and cost savings, it’s essential to know how to suitably manage your house and all of its systems. Occasionally it just implies knowing when to call an experienced for help. Your air conditioning system is one of the most important systems in your house, supplying essential cooling during the hottest summers. Therefore, it is very important to make sure your AC remains in top state. One method to do this is to maintain the air filter neat and always make sure it is in position before driving the system. Numerous individuals do not understand the significance of this small component, but it fulfills an important service by controlling damaging things out of the system.

While your HVAC unit is operating, it should never operate without an air filter. Mud is the number one reason for air conditioner failure, so operating the device without an established air filter can induce serious harm. The goal of an air filter is to maintain the air in your home clean and free from dust and dirt in the AC system, which is why it’s necessary to drive your AC with one filter established.  Although there are certain circumstances where this may be fine for a very short period, in most circumstances driving your AC without a filter can be catastrophic. In general, any time you operate your air conditioning system without an air filter, you are taking a huge risk. Next, we will explain this important element and the consequences of trying to run your system without it.

What is the purpose of the air filter?

The main objective of the air filter is to clean the air in the house and free it from dust and contamination of the AC system. Since grime, dust, dander, and other particles in the air can harm the air conditioner, air filters are required as a wall for the AC. To achieve this goal optimally, most filters are created with special materials such as fiberglass or a particular fabric that traps the particles in the air inside. Air filters are ranked based on their status of filtration of air particles, usually utilizing the MERV rating system or other similar systems such as MPR and FPR. Relying on the air quality and the conditions in which the air filter is utilized, various classes of filtration may be needed to optimally shield the air conditioner from harm. Although choosing the proper filter for your particular condition is necessary, employing no filter at all is the most harmful choice and can cause long-term hurt.

What induces damage to unfiltered AC?

Dirt is the number one reason for air conditioner failure, so operating the device without an established air filter can induce severe damage. Apart from the soil, there are different types of air particles that can cause damage. Pollutants in the air that can also damage air conditioning include dust, hair, soil, and pollen. By installing a suitable air filter, these pollutants and other things can be prevented from reaching the AC. Relying on the rating of the air filter bought, the level of pollutant filtration may vary. Also, while it’s important to choose the right MERV rating for your particular circumstances, operating your AC without a filter generally poses more severe risks that cause breakdowns or additional repair expenses.

Dangers that arise from running your AC without a filter

Although it is possible to run an AC without an air filter, you should know what occurs if you don’t have an air filter in your AC. Any time you operate your AC without utilizing a filter, you are putting your AC’s health at severe risk, which causes the need for repair or substitute. The following are all possible adverse effects of driving unfiltered AC/HVAC systems:

Dust and waste are everywhere in the home

Since air filters tend to trap grime, dust, hair, and other pollutants, driving your AC without a filter will cause debris to spread throughout the home. This contributes to typically unsatisfactory indoor air quality and can exacerbate allergies or impact the health of you and your home.

Clogged condensate drain

Another consequence of driving your AC without a filter is the blockage of the condensate drain, which releases excess liquid amassed during the dehumidification procedure. Excess dirt and waste that enters the AC system due to not having an air filter can make its path to the condensate drain (where it shouldn’t be) and block the drain. As the drain becomes more and more blocked, condensation instead collects on the Freon pipe, inducing water harm.

Problems related to your Ductwork

An air filter not only traps dust and shields your AC, but filters also maintain waste out of your air ducts. Without a filter, these pollutants move freely throughout the ducts and may remain there, perhaps adversely affecting health due to insufficient indoor air quality.

Freon tube problems

Air conditioners cool air by blowing it through pipes filled with Freon refrigerant. These Freon pipes are important for AC operation and cannot work properly when they are clogged or covered with debris. As mentioned above, when the condensate drain is clogged and water covers the Freon pipes, waste and mud can cling to the pipes and stop appropriate operation.

Higher energy costs

Not only can any of the damage noted earlier cost you costly repairs, but higher fuel bills can also result from damage to the AC system. An ineffective or destroyed system must work harder to perform at the same status. This in turn needs more energy to operate the engine or compressor, which may be obstructed or slowed by pollutants. Although some homeowners replace and repair their AC filters, some large and complex air conditioning systems make this task difficult and if not done correctly, it will increase energy costs. Therefore, it is better to get the help of an air conditioning technician to replace and repair the filter properly.