What happens if you never change your furnace filter?

Without a new air filter, the furnace will overheat every time it starts up again. This is referred to as short cycling. Dirty furnace filters cause your furnace to work harder than it should due to a decrease in airflow. The harder your furnace works, the quicker its parts will wear out and need repairs.

How long can you go without changing furnace filter?

Generally, most air filter manufacturers and HVAC companies recommend changing your air filter every 90 days, or 3 months. That can change based on where your home is located (ex. dusty, dry climates), if you have any pets, and the age of your system and equipment.

What happens if you don't change the air filter in your house?

A dirty filter reduces the airflow to your HVAC system and causes it to work harder. It uses more energy, which costs you more money. It also might not be able to keep your home at the proper temperature. This means it may have to run for longer periods, which strains the system.

Is not changing furnace filter a fire hazard?

Neglecting to change the furnace filter can result in a house fire or in deadly combustion gases (carbon monoxide) combining with the air in your home. For a furnace to operate properly, optimal air flow is necessary.

Is it OK to not use a furnace filter?

Can I run my furnace without a filter? The answer is NO. Well, technically you can run your furnace without a filter. It will operate without one, but you'll risk potential damage to your system and to your health and the health of your family, and that's just not worth it.

What Happens If I Don't Change My Filter (Plus Is High MERV Rating The Best Furnace Filter?)

Will a furnace run with a dirty filter?

A clogged furnace air filter will negatively affect the airflow throughout your house and HVAC system. The lack of fresh air in your furnace will cause the heat exchanger to become too warm and deactivate. Dirty filters indirectly cause short cycling issues and will make it hard to keep your home warm.

How do I know if my furnace filter is dirty?

Can my furnace explode?

The short answer is yes, it is possible for your furnace to explode. But it is highly unlikely especially with the build of modern furnaces, which include high safety standards to decrease the risk of an explosion.

How likely is a furnace fire?

The National Fire Protection Association says more than one in six home fires start from heating equipment, which is the second most common cause of a fire behind cooking. While most heating-related fires start from either space heaters or fire places, more than one out of every 10 starts with a central heating system.

Can a dirty furnace cause a fire?

There's no doubt about it there's an increased risk of fire when your furnace is not regularly maintained. One of the most important things to maintain is a clean air filter. If it gets too dirty, air flow gets restricted.

How often should I change my furnace filter in the winter?

Professionals, like our team at Airco Service, Inc. say that you should change your air filter at least every three months. During the winter, when you rely on your heating system more, you want to increase that frequency. During the winter, when the system is in constant use, change it out every month.

What does a dirty air filter cause house?

A dirty air filter restricts the flow of cold air, causing it to build up inside the air conditioner and lower the internal temperature. Given enough time, that buildup of cold air can eventually cause ice to form on the coils.

Why does my furnace filter get dirty so quickly?

Your filter gets clogged faster when your furnace is running more often. That's because more air is cycled through your filter when your furnace goes through more heating cycles, so more contaminants get caught on the filter's media. The colder it gets outside, the faster your filter will get clogged with dirt.

How long do furnaces usually last?

A well-maintained furnace can last at least 15 to 20 years, but completing annual maintenance and being diligent with repairs can extend its life even longer.

Do I need to change furnace filter in summer?

Longer cycles and more operating hours mean a greater volume of air circulates through the system daily and more airborne particulates are captured by the filter. To ensure optimum filtration, more frequent replacement is recommended in summer. Humidity is also a factor in summer cooling.

Can a furnace start a house fire?

A furnace is a vital component in virtually every home heating system across the country. Many people may not be aware that a furnace can cause a house fire if the conditions allow it. According to data released by FEMA, heating appliances were the second highest cause of building fires in homes during 2014.

Do gas furnaces ever explode?

The modern gas furnace is much safer than electric space heaters, and furnaces are built to high safety standards. Although it is possible for a gas furnace to either catch fire or explode, it's highly unlikely. If there is a danger of this happening, the furnace will usually simply shut off—as it's designed to.

How do you put out a furnace fire?

To successfully handle fires involving burners and furnaces you must shut down the fuel source. Once you control the source the fire may simply go out. If it doesn't you may be able to extinguish any remaining fire with fire extinguishers or a small handline.

How do I know if my furnace is going to explode?

Noises such as popping, groaning, banging, or rattling that aren't normally produced by the furnace suggest its components are malfunctioning. In addition to the loud noise, if the blower is frequently turning on and off and blowing cool air into your home, there is a high possibility that your furnace is not working.

Should I replace my 30 year old furnace?

Regardless of the logic you follow, the 30-year mark is at or close to the maximum lifespan you should expect from your furnace. Even though furnaces can last 30 years or beyond, most experts recommend that you start shopping for a new furnace when your existing unit is 15 years old.

Why is my furnace banging so loud?

Banging Sounds

If your furnace is making a loud booming or banging noise, the problem may be caused by a small gas explosion that happens when there's a delay in ignition. Gas can build up in your combustion chamber when the gas burners in your furnace do not ignite on time.

Can a dirty furnace filter cause carbon monoxide?

How a dirty air filter can lead to CO poisoning. Here's the brief explanation: a clogged filter reduces air flow and causes your furnace heat exchanger to overheat and crack. Once the heat exchanger cracks, poisonous carbon monoxide can leak into your home.

Can a dirty furnace make you sick?

If you are not cleaning your furnace often, there is more room for dust and other hazardous particles to build up, making you and your family feel sick. Nausea, dizziness, coughs, irritated eyes — these are all common symptoms that can arise when your furnace isn't working correctly.

Can a dirty air filter make you sick?

If the filter's dirty, everything past the filter is dirty too, including the air you breathe. This pumps your home full of dust and allergens. Speaking of allergens, they can cause a number of physical symptoms like headaches, fatigue, tightness in your chest, and a mess of cold symptoms you may not be able to shake.

Is no furnace filter better than a dirty one?

NO. A furnace filter has a critical job to perform and a filter cannot be run without one. For a furnace to work properly, it should always be equipped with a clean, working filter. As we'll see, a dirty filter can cause problems, and so can having no filter at all.