So, you’ve just remembered that you haven’t checked your furnace filter in a long while. You check it and find out it has enough layers of dirt to build a sandcastle. You know it’s wrong to put the filter back in that condition, and you start wondering. Can you run a furnace without a filter?
As the premier choice for furnace repair in Richmond Hill, it’s one of the most common questions we receive here at Georgia Air. If you’re looking for an answer in one word, it’s no. However, the filter doesn’t affect the furnace’s combustion process, so you can run the furnace without the filter.
If you use your furnace without a filter for a few days while waiting for the new filter you’ve ordered to arrive, that’s fine. However, if you’re thinking about ditching the filter permanently because you think it’s too much of a hassle to replace it occasionally, you shouldn’t. You’ll only cause a whole range of other problems.
We’ll cover all the details you need to know below.
Understanding How a Furnace Filter Works
All types of furnace systems have air filters. It doesn’t matter if you’re using a natural gas or an electric furnace – they all have furnace filters.
The air in your home passes through the filter on the way to the heat exchanger. The filter’s primary role is to trap airborne contaminants like dust, pollen, dander, pet hair, and more. The heat exchanger warms the air, and the blower pushes the warm air through the ducts and to the registers, from where it will flow back into your indoor air space.
The warm air entering your space will be fresh and clean thanks to the filter.
What Happens When You Run Your Furnace Without the Filter?
Some of the dangers of running your furnace without the filter include the following:
Poor Indoor Air Quality
As you’ve seen above, your furnace filter is your first line of defense against airborne contaminants. That’s already enough reason for you not to run your furnace without an air filter. Every time you breathe in while your furnace is running, you inhale recycled and cleaned air – if you have a furnace filter in excellent shape.
Otherwise, you’ll continue to inhale poor-quality air filled with contaminants. The air quality will also keep worsening with every day that passes as long as you keep running the furnace without the filter.
Poor air quality is a major issue because it causes various health issues. Some of them include:
- Irritation
- Shortness of breath
- Allergic reactions
- Coughing
- Wheezing
- Headaches
- Watery eyes
If someone has a bug in your home (flu, etc.), running the furnace without a filter means more people will catch it.
So, can you run a furnace without a filter? No. Unless you’re okay with putting your family’s health at risk.
Dirty Ductwork
The ductwork across your home transports all the treated air from your HVAC systems. It’s the one part of the system you should not allow to accumulate dirt and debris. Your indoor air quality will decline to extreme levels (until you pay for a ductwork cleaning service).
Unfortunately, dirty ductwork will likely follow if you run your furnace without a filter for too long. All the dirt, debris, and airborne contaminants floating around your indoor space will end up in your ductwork, creating the perfect environment for mold growth.
Higher Heating Bills
Your furnace system’s efficiency will drop when it is creaking under the weight of accumulated dust and debris.
So, running your furnace without a filter for too long will end up increasing your energy bills in the winter months. The level of increase will depend on how much dust your furnace accumulates over time.
More Frequent Repairs
The filter in your furnace doesn’t just keep contaminants from cycling back to you. It also protects the furnace system from accumulating too much dirt and debris. Manufacturers installed the first batch of furnace filters primarily to protect the furnace system from accumulating too much dust.
Most people install their furnaces in the attic or basement, so they will likely accumulate more dust and debris. The filter prevents this.
Running the furnace without the filter will lead to too much dirt and debris lodging inside, causing parts to break down more frequently.
Overheating is one of the most common issues you may experience in this scenario. It will damage diverse parts of the furnace, including the heat exchanger. A cracked heat exchanger is a major issue that can put your furnace out of commission completely.
Premature Furnace Replacement
When you continue to put too much strain on your furnace by running it without an air filter, you’ll reduce its lifespan. Before long, you’ll be browsing through a list of possible replacement furnace options.
Imagine how you would feel at that point, knowing you could have avoided spending thousands on a new furnace by installing a filter that would have cost you less than a few dollars.
So, can you run a furnace without a filter? Yes, but it’s a decision you’re highly likely to regret.
Types of Furnace Filters You Can Install
If you’ve never had to replace your furnace filter, you may not know what type of filter to order. Your options include the following:
Fiberglass Filters
These are the cheapest furnace filters ($10 or less). They don’t keep out all contaminants, but they are good enough for most homes. You can find these filters down at your local home store. If you choose fiberglass filters, you’ll need to replace them every month.
Pleated Fabric Filters
These filters are made of polyester or cotton. They have a tighter weave and more surface area to catch contaminants. They are slightly more expensive than fiberglass filters (up to $20), but they can last up to three months.
Electrostatic Filters
These filters use static electricity to draw in pollutants and other particles, such as pet dander and pollen. They are more powerful than standard fiberglass or pleated fabric filters, so they cost a lot more (up to $50).
Don’t let the cost put you off, though; you can buy washable ones you’ll only need to clean once in three months.
High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) Filters
Think of HEPA filters as the gold standard in air filter technology. They can remove up to 99.7% of particles from your air. However, you have to check your furnace manual to ensure it can support a HEPA filter. Some furnaces may not work well with filters that have a MERV rating of 17 or higher.
What Does the MERV Rating Mean?
The term “MERV” stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. It’s a metric for rating furnace filters. The MERV rating scale runs from one to 20, with 20 being the most effective. Fiberglass filters, which are the least efficient furnace filters, have a MERV rating between one and seven.
HEPA filters, on the other hand, generally have a MERV rating of 17 to 20.
How to Change Your Furnace Filter
The process of changing or installing your furnace is straightforward. Here’s what you should do:
- Turn off your furnace and find the filter. If you don’t know where to find your furnace filter already, look inside the system or in the return air vent. Your owner’s manual can provide guidance if you need it.
- Check if you have a disposable or washable filter. The easiest way to differentiate them is that disposable filters have cardboard frames while reusable filters have plastic frames. If you have a reusable filter, you can wash off the debris and reinstall it.
- Confirm the size and thickness of the filter. If you have a disposable filter and need to buy a new one, take the time to confirm the size and thickness of the filter first. You have to buy a filter of a similar size.
- Install the replacement filter in the right orientation. You must line up the filter in the right orientation to allow airflow in the correct direction. Look to the arrows on the filter frame as a guide to ensure you got things right. After you install the filter, you can close the panel.
Now, you can get back to enjoying the warmth from your furnace, knowing that you’re not inhaling contaminants and dust. Your furnace will run more efficiently, and it will have a higher chance of reaching its advertised lifespan.
Get Expert Help from the Pros!
When someone asks, “Can you run a furnace without a filter?” near you, you’ll have the perfect answer for them. Do you need help with installing your new furnace filters? Maybe you’re still unsure which type of filters to buy. The team at Georgia Air can help.
Our experienced crew has extensive experience working on all kinds of furnace systems. You can trust us to solve all your furnace-related issues.
Call Georgia Air today at (912) 513-3361 to book a furnace tune-up in Richmond Hill, GA.