Just as your car or truck runs better with routine tune-ups, the heating and cooling systems that you rely on to keep your family comfortable benefit from regularly scheduled professional maintenance too. There's one easy task you can do on your own, however, to make your heater and air conditioner operate more efficiently: change your air filter. Read on to discover why skipping this simple chore can cost you money and can compromise your family's comfort and well-being.
Optimizing Energy Efficiency
Your household energy bills are closely linked to how efficiently your HVAC systems can heat or cool your home. From a drafty room to malfunctioning blower motor, any number of factors can increase the amount of energy that your heater or air conditioner uses and drive up your monthly utility bills. When the filter is clogged or dirty, the flow of air is restricted, and that forces the HVAC system to run longer to keep you warm or cool. Changing the filter is one of the easiest and most economical ways to increase your home's energy efficiency.Saving Money with Regular Air Filter Replacements
You might be surprised to learn just how much money you can save by simply replacing your HVAC filter whenever it's dirty. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), ensuring that the filter is clean can lower the system's energy consumption by as much as 15 percent. Since heating and cooling accounts for up to 50 percent of an average household's energy expenditures, changing the filter at regular intervals can add up to significant savings. The EPA recommends monthly replacements during the heating the cooling seasons and advises homeowners to check the filter every month in the off seasons too, replacing it at the first sign of dirt or debris.Additional Benefits
Ensuring that your HVAC air filter is clean offers you additional advantages as well:- Health Benefits. All of the air delivered to your home through a central heating or cooling system first passes through the filter. Air filters help blocks allergens and other particles from circulating through your home's living spaces. That's an important consideration for any family members who suffer from allergies, asthma or other respiratory conditions. Clean filters help everyone breathe easier.
- Long-Term Savings. Although the filter that comes with most heating and air conditioning systems helps sift out contaminants from the air you breathe, it's primarily designed to protect the equipment. A clogged or dirty filter can allow dust, dirt and grime to damage critical parts and components. Keeping the filter clean helps prevent costly HVAC repairs and premature replacements, saving you money now as well as later.
Filter Efficiency Ratings
The number and size of the particles that a filter can trap largely depends on its Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) rating. The higher the rating, the more effective the filter is at sifting out tiny particulates. Most HVAC systems, for example, come equipped with a flat panel filter with a MERV rating between 1 and 4. Pleated filters, also called extended surface filters, are available with MERV values as high as 16. A higher rating isn't always better, however. A too-dense filter may present too much air resistance for an HVAC system's fan or motor. Your trusted HVAC provider can help you determine which filter is best for your system.When you don't change your filter regularly, you pay for it with higher monthly energy bills, more frequent repairs and a shorter HVAC system service life. Dirty filters make it harder to keep your home free of dust and allergens and can have a negative impact of your family's health as well. While it's a relatively easy DIY task, if you have trouble accessing or replacing your filter, a reputable HVAC technician can handle the job for you.
By: Kyson Crowell
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