You have therefore decided to visually inspect your filter and found that it is dirty and clogged. To prevent dirt and dust from circulating in your home, you may have removed the filter before getting a replacement. Alternatively, you may feel that your air conditioner is having trouble cooling your home effectively. You've heard from someone that removing the filter can improve AC performance. Correct?
The lack of a filter in the AC unit creates a number of problems. Your air conditioner will not run better without a filter, but may even fail.
Why filters are an integral part of an alternating current
A clean air circulation in your house is not only important for your health, but also for the performance of the AC system. The system works like a big loop – everything is connected. Part of the air expelled from the air conditioning system is drawn back into the device, where it is conditioned and redistributed. Without a filter, dust particles remain suspended in the air, as there is no way to settle. The range of particles and contaminants to worry about is wide: pollen, bacteria, microfibers, mold spores, wood particles, pet fur, etc.
8 major problems when operating AC power without a filter
- The AC system is getting dirty: As the air circulates in the system, the particles and contaminants settle along parts of the equipment, which leads to deposits. Critical areas that get dirty are the blower motor and the evaporator coil.
- Reduction of cooling capacity: Their evaporator registers contain the refrigerant that absorbs the heat from the air. Your evaporator coils must be kept clean because dirty coils limit heat transfer. Without a filter, a fine layer of dust can settle much more easily on the evaporator coils and fins.
- More energy consumption: If your system can't cool the air faster, it means it needs to be operated longer. You have to spend more on energy costs.
- Your air conditioner can fail: The refrigerant must be cold before it flows through the evaporator coils. It heats up in the coils because it absorbs heat from the air. If this is not done correctly, the refrigerant will remain cold and may cause the coil to freeze over. You may need a very expensive AC repair service later.
- Mold growth: Your lines are particularly susceptible to mold. And if you don't have a filter in the AC unit, this will certainly promote mold growth. All that is needed is a warm and humid environment. Particles like small soil particles trapped in your pipes absorb moisture. After all, your family can be exposed to toxic mold spores in the air that can affect health by causing stuffy nose, throat irritation, wheezing, etc.
- Problems in the condensate drain: When the evaporator coils cool the air, condensate (water drops) forms. If a lot of dust particles have been washed away from the condensate, they may clog your drain. Failure to properly drain your air conditioner can result in flooding, eventually damaging electrical parts and even causing short circuits.
- Development of small holes in your evaporator coils and leakage of refrigerant: Good filters also remove volatile organic compounds from the air. These can be generated by air fresheners, certain cleaning chemicals, upholstery, etc. If VOC settles on your evaporator coils, they can cause corrosion and create small holes in which the refrigerant can escape. Do you have problems with your air conditioning system? Click here to learn more about repairing and installing air conditioning in Phoenix, Arizona.
- Inhale dirty air: If there is no filter at all, you can expect to inhale more particles, which will result in a decrease in indoor air quality. It's not ideal for pollutants to accumulate, especially if you have certain allergies.
Can I run my air conditioner without a filter for one night?
It is perfectly understandable that you cannot get a replacement today until the shops are open tomorrow. Or you are very busy with a specific task. Running an air conditioner without a filter for one night shouldn't make much difference. This advice does not take into account if you live in a very dusty house with lots of pets or outside dust. In this case, you can turn off the air conditioner at night to take advantage of the night air, which can cool down the indoor temperatures. When it's hot outside, prepare for a long night of sweating.
Let AC run without filter for one day
If you run your air conditioner without a filter for a day, you can go the farthest. This way you can operate your air conditioner for a day and just get used to it. Remember that dust is constantly being collected and stirred. This is the reason why your filter will eventually become dirty because more and more dust is entering. You may soon have problems with itchy or watery eyes, nose and throat irritation, flu-like symptoms, etc. If you want to avoid these, get your filter replaced as soon as possible.
Last word!
Are you afraid to buy a new filter after a few months? You can choose washable filters instead. Many companies are now producing washable filters with high MERV values. They remain effective even after repeated washing and are designed for long-term use. You can even use them to remove most microscopic particles from the air. If you live in a high-rise apartment building where the air is very clean and there is less dust in the air, you should also consider replacing your filters in good time to avoid management problems.
