"Proper air filter maintenance is crucial to the operation and service life of your home's HVAC system." Of course they say that, but does it really matter that much? I mean, if I change my home's air filters every six or seven months vs. every three months, it's no big deal, right? Wrong! Failing to change your home's air filters on a regular basis is equivalent to not changing your car's oil on a regular basis: destined to cost you more money in the long-run due to increased wear and tear, and repairs that could have been avoided. In this article, you'll learn:
- why an air filter is important to your HVAC system
- why a dirty filter can cost you up to 15% more each month on your utility bill
- how to select a replacement filter
- how to change the filter
Why an air filter is important to your HVAC system.
The HVAC system's air filter serves as a barrier between dust, hair, pollen, and other small particles that would otherwise be sucked into the systems' coils. The coils are what actually cool the air, and consist of a plate of hundreds of tiny slivers that air flows through. If these slivers become clogged with dust or debris, the air flow is significantly impeded. Over time, this can cause premature compressor failure, and in the short-term, it will lead to higher utility bills. Not to mention, that, with impeded airflow, the system can't do a very good job filtering your air, leaving more dust and allergens in the air you breathe.
Why a dirty filter can cost you up to 15% more each month on your utility bill.
According the the EPA, consumers could be saving an average of 5%-15% on their monthly utility bills if they changed their homes' air filters on a more regular basis. For most homes and HVAC systems, "a more regular basis" works out to roughly once every two to three months. If you don't take the care to do this, the old filter collects more and more dust, and airflow becomes more and more restricted. As a result, your system must run longer to pull the same volume of air through it, and this costs you more on your utility bills. For a home with a $300 utility bill, the savings could be as much as $45 per month.
How to select a replacement filter.
Knowing which filter to buy is easy, just find the air returns in your home, and see what size filters each has in it. Typically the size will be printed clearly on the side, but if not, you can measure it with a tape measurer (note: round up to the nearest half-inch). Then you decide on the quality filter you want. There are two major types of filters for homes: fiberglass and pleated. Fiberglass filters are economy filters made of fiberglass strands strung across a cardboard frame. These filters offer very poor filtration, and shouldn't be used. Pleated filters are also housed in a cardboard frame, but it is usually more rigid, and instead of fiberglass, contain a pleated cloth-like material with varying pleat counts. When selecting one of these pleated filters, get a MERV8 if you want better airflow and maximum energy savings, or a MERV11 if you want a filter that will capture smaller particles.
How to change the filter.
Changing the filter is really easy and takes just seconds. Open the air return grate, and remove the old filter. On the new filter, note which direction the airflow indicators point, and place it in the return. Close the grate, and you're done.
No comments:
Post a Comment