Is Not Changing Air Filter a Fire Hazard?

Each household oven will include an air purge filter, which is essential for the heating device to breathe properly. While a clogged air filter in an air conditioner is also not a mockery, heaters carry the danger of overheating. When things get too hot, it can lead to a malfunction of the heater or even cause a fire (fortunately, there are many modern safety devices to help avoid this). This is one of the main reasons why we constantly remind our customers to change their air filters. Dirty air filters not only adversely affect your home's air quality, but also inhibit your system's ability to function.

If you have allowed your air filters to become severely clogged, you could be blocking airflow completely. This will cause your oven to work too hard. Yes, even in the spring and summer months, your oven works hard to keep the air cool and can eventually lead to a system failure. Not changing the oven filter can significantly reduce the efficiency with which the oven works, cause damage to the oven, and possibly create a life-threatening situation in your home. Failure to change the furnace filter may cause a fire in the house or the combination of deadly combustion gases (carbon monoxide) with the air in your home.

Along with poor air quality, there are some dangerous operational problems that can be the result of not changing the furnace filter. One of the biggest of these problems includes the possibility of the oven overheating. This is usually because the oven has to work very hard to draw air through the clogged filter, and then it overheats from effort. Any overheated appliance is at risk of causing a fire or causing major problems, but ovens are especially prone to some of these problems. Other problems may include malfunction of the appliance, inefficiency and even total failure.

Ensuring that the filter is changed regularly in the oven can help keep homes and loved ones safe. Yet another reason why you should change filters regularly is that dirty filters pose a fire hazard. Just as a dirty lint trap in the dryer poses a fire hazard, so does a dirty HVAC filter. The lint and debris that accumulates in the filter are highly flammable and, if there is a problem with the filter, it could be a greater fire hazard. You should be sure to change filters regularly and clean the ducts to remove any debris that could be a fire hazard. If the air filter is clogged and can't trap pollutants like before, those things can get back into the air that everyone in your home breathes.

Immediate problems may include headaches, itchy eyes or throat, and dizziness. If air filters are not changed and problems continue, long-term effects could be respiratory disease, heart disease or cancer. Air filters come with many different MERV ratings. A higher MERV rating indicates that the filter has a finer mesh and is capable of removing smaller particles from the air. However, you should not use a filter with a higher rating than what your unit is designed for.

If the mesh is too thin, the HVAC system will not have enough energy to blow air through it properly. This can cause serious damage to the air conditioner or oven. Air purifiers have a tendency to overheat. A clean filter is very important for those struggling with allergies, asthma or other respiratory problems. Regular replacement of the air filter is an essential task if you want your HVAC system to operate efficiently.

As the system is working harder to get around clogged air filters, it can cause the entire system to work too hard and eventually break. They are inserted into a specific location in HVAC systems and act as a barrier to prevent contaminants and other particles from circulating in the air or reaching sensitive parts of the system. Another way I could start a fire? When the oven is working hard to extract air, the dirty air filter could be sucked back into the system. If the filter is too small, it will not cover the entire space and may allow dust and dirt to pass through. For help changing a furnace filter, there are gas central heating system professionals in Minneapolis and other areas. Whether you use an oven or a heat pump, another big threat of a dirty air filter is the short cycle.

This causes the entire system to have to work harder to distribute heat or air where it's needed, increasing your utility bills as the air runs longer. A clogged air filter can prevent enough oxygen from passing through and that can cause “flame deployment”.With a clean filter, you can have cleaner air that is safe to breathe and that will make you feel better and breathe better. Evaporative coils, which help remove heat from the air to keep your home cool, can freeze if they work too hard. When dust, dirt and other elements clog the filter, the HVAC system has to work harder to bring fresh air to the other side. While your HVAC unit will circulate air, having a dirty filter can do some things that will shorten the life of the unit and pollute the air in your home.

If you're not sure where your air filter is located, your HVAC technician can show you how to perform this essential work during a regular system maintenance visit.