When air conditioners are operated without a filter, the most common consequence is decreased air quality. Dust will not accumulate in a room with air conditioning running continuously without a filter, and over time, this will cause the unit to clog. It is possible for an air conditioning system to work without a filter, but it is not advisable to do so for more than six hours. If the air filter is clogged and can't trap pollutants like it did before, those elements can be left back in the air that everyone in the house breathes. Immediate problems may include headaches, itchy eyes or throat, and dizziness.
If the air filters are not changed and problems persist, the long-term effects could be respiratory diseases, heart disease, or cancer. A dirty filter forces the air conditioning unit to work harder than usual because it's harder for it to suck in air. This means that the entire system has to work harder to distribute heat or air where needed, increasing utility bills. The air conditioning filter is usually made of spun fiberglass material or of pleated paper or cloth fastened inside a frame. This filter is responsible for removing impurities from the air before the air conditioning system returns hot or cooled air to the building.
All residential and commercial heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems use a filter to remove the impurities present in the air, so that they do not return them to indoor spaces and do not contribute to indoor air pollution.The Minimum Efficiency Value (MERV) rating for an air filter measures how effectively the filter prevents dust and other contaminants from passing through the filter and into the air stream. If you don't change your air conditioner filter regularly, you will no longer be able to filter the air properly, allowing dust and contaminants to enter the air conditioning system. It is important to understand that running your air conditioning unit without a filter can have serious consequences. Not only can it cause health issues for those living in the home or office, but it can also lead to higher utility bills and damage to the unit itself. The easiest way to ensure that your AC unit is running properly is to have an HVAC technician change your filter every few months.
