It's understandable that you may not always have a new replacement filter on hand when you need to replace your current one, but it's best to wait until you have one. Running an air conditioner without a filter is worse than running it with a dirty one. Instead, go to the store as soon as possible for a replacement or call an HVAC professional to have it replaced. Without a filter, your air conditioner risks serious and costly problems.
In theory, you can run your air conditioner without a filter for a limited period. However, doing so for longer than 6 to 8 hours can be harmful to your system and reduce your home's indoor air quality. The longer you leave your air conditioner running without a filter, the more likely you are to have problems with indoor air quality. As a result, you or others in your household may experience an increase in allergy symptoms, respiratory problems, eye irritation, or nose and throat irritation.
The good news is that yes, you can run the air conditioner while you go to the store. This doesn't mean you can run the air conditioner permanently without a filter and simply sweep your house more often. An air conditioner cannot work more than 6-8 hours without a filter and not be damaged. More than this, you could be configuring your system for serious damage.
It is often found in the return air duct, but it could also be in the front of the furnace, near the bottom of the two systems that share the same ducts. One of the manifestations, when the filter is clogged, is the inadequate distribution of cold air in the surrounding area. Every air conditioning system has a filter designed to prevent dust from entering both your home and the system. An air conditioner works by drawing air from the environment and returning it through the fiberglass tubes of the freon air conditioner.
The second function is to keep the dispensed air purified, as the air passes through the cooling and filtration tubes and ducts. Some air conditioning systems are large and complicated, and even finding the filter can be difficult. Perhaps this is a little more obvious, but without the air filter that filters dust, the air conditioner will now spew dust all over the house. Both scenarios can reduce air quality and potentially damage the HVAC system, resulting in costly repairs or replacements. Take our advice and never run your system without one. AIR PROS HAS A WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES DESIGNED TO ADDRESS EVERY HEATING PROBLEM YOU MAY HAVE.
