An air conditioning system can work without a filter, but this is not recommended. Without a filter, the system will suck in air laden with debris and return the same dirty air to the indoor environment, contributing to health problems. There is no right or wrong answer to this question, as it depends on each situation. However, if you are operating your oven without a filter, you should be aware of the risks and be prepared to replace the oven in case it breaks down. As an expert in the field of HVAC, I can confidently say that it is never a good idea to operate your furnace without an air filter.
Dirt is the main cause of air conditioners breaking down, so operating the unit without air filters installed can cause serious damage. The purpose of your air filter is to clean the air in your home and keep the air conditioning system free of dust and dirt, so it's important to operate the air conditioner only with a filter installed. An oven filter traps these particles and prevents them from entering the oven. Over time, particles accumulate and clog the filter, so it needs to be changed. An unaltered filter would cause the oven to work harder to extract the same amount of air through the filter.
Although rare, a clogged oven filter can have serious consequences. Dirty filters force the engine or heater to work harder, which can eventually cause the entire system to overheat. Dirty filters can also cause something called a short cycle, which causes the oven to shut down prematurely. That's no fun during the winter. When the filter is too clogged, dirty air is forced around the oven and released inside the house.
Once you have the size of your filter, you can go to your local hardware store or home improvement store and buy a filter the same size as the one you have. While the filter helps improve air quality, its true purpose is to prevent those particles from accumulating in the oven machinery. Like pet dust and dander, bacteria and viruses are trapped and feed through the ventilation system over and over again without a filter. The filter may seem inconsequential at first, but it is one of the most important parts of the oven. While air filters are generally good at filtering this dander, operating the air conditioner without a filter poses an additional risk of damaging the mechanical components of the HVAC system and the health of your pets. If you have any questions about what type of filter you should buy, you can always call your local HVAC technician for help.
If you have a permanent filter, use a brush or a vacuum with a hose attachment to remove dirt from the filter. In addition, short cycles can also be caused by an oversized oven or because it works in the wrong configuration of your home. Now that you understand the different types of damage that can occur when operating an HVAC unit without an air filter, it is important to consider at least the air quality in your home before jeopardizing both your health and that of your pets. If an air filter becomes dirty and clogged, not only will it be completely ineffective at trapping unpleasant air particles, but it could also worsen the overall air quality in your home. The time that elapses between air filter changes will vary depending on how often your furnace operates, as well as on its size and type of filter used. Every time you operate your furnace without using a filter, you're at serious risk of damaging both its mechanical components and your health. If you are moving to your new home, be sure to ask about the condition of its boiler and when was its last filter changed.
It's important to consider at least these two factors before jeopardizing both your health and that of your pets by operating an HVAC unit without an air filter.