Yes, a blocked/dirty filter can increase the chance of fire hazards.
"Those electronic air cleaners, if you switch and start using the disposable filters, you need to make sure those do not get turned on. Those disposable air filters cannot have electricity running through them or they will catch fire," Ross said.
A dirty air filter restricts airflow into your air handler, causing the system to work harder than it was designed to. This leads to more wear and tear than necessary — particularly on the air handler fan motor.
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.
A clogged air filter can prevent enough oxygen getting through, and that can result in “flame rollout.” It's about as scary as it sounds, as flames will “roll out” from the furnace cabinet to suck up more oxygen. Running the furnace in this state can be dangerous, as it might catch fire to nearby objects.
Yes, a blocked/dirty filter can increase the chance of fire hazards.
For 1- to 2-inch filters, replace them every 1 to 3 months. For 3- to 4-inch filters, replace them every 6 to 9 months. For 5- to 6-inch filters, replace them every 9 to 12 months.
If your filter becomes clogged, it can cause your furnace to shut off as a safety feature to prevent damage to the furnace. To fix this problem, simply replace your air filter on a regular basis. If you have pets, be sure to change your air filter more frequently.
Your home's air filters are designed to, quite simply, filter the air and keep dirt, debris, dust, and other particles out of your air flow. When the filter hasn't been changed in over three months, your filters will become clogged and dirty, allowing more dust and debris to enter your air flow.
Is no AC filter better than a dirty one? No. A dirty filter will slightly protect against some dust particles that will damage your AC system. Its better to have a dirty filter than having no filter.
The filter will be gray or black and bits of debris will be visible. But you may notice other changes that indicate the furnace is not operating properly.
Dirty Filter
If your air filter is clogged, these contaminants can get sucked into the blower and cause it to overheat. This can also lead to dirt and dust reaching the heat exchanger and heating up. Both of these will cause a burning smell and can be mostly avoided by changing your filter regularly.
The air purifier's circuit board can overheat and cause the air purifier to catch on fire.
#6 – Can Cause Fires
A dirty air filter is a fire hazard. If the filter is clogged and unable to function correctly, an owner can turn to a cheap and easy alternative of using a dryer sheet to clean the filter. This causes static electricity, which can cause a fire.
If you don't change your AC filter, it will begin to fail. It will no longer be able to filter the air properly, letting dust and contaminants get into the HVAC system. Dust jams the moving parts of an AC such as fan motors and valves. Airflow is restricted which creates a strain on the system.
Reusable filters can be washed and replaced. However, the disposable filters you use in your HVAC system aren't made to shed water after they get wet. The moisture the filter retains can encourage mold growth over time, and your HVAC system might spread the mold spores throughout the rest of your home.
When you leave an AC unit's air filter clogged for too long, you can experience a failure of the entire system. This is because the unit can only work for so long at twice the power before it finally breaks down.
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. When it's cold outside, many of us rely on furnaces to heat our homes.
A furnace running with a clogged air filter is starved for ventilation and produces high levels of carbon monoxide (CO) – a colorless, odorless gas than can be fatal for humans and their pets. A clogged air filter can also increase the chances of a fire, further advancing the safety concerns in this home.
A dirty air filter prevents air from flowing from your house into the furnace. Once that happens, the system shuts down because it realizes that something's wrong. It turns off rather than let any of the components get burned out or otherwise break when it's not working the way it should.
Your furnace can, technically, run without a filter. However, we strongly recommend you don't run your furnace without a filter for any length of time. With air constantly moving through your furnace and your home, dust and debris can quickly build up, even in a matter of minutes.