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Energy Efficiency


Clearing the Air Replace air filters regularly for efficient heating


and cooling By Megan McKoy-Noe Clogged air filters could add


$82 to your electric bill every year. Checking, changing, or cleaning your filter once a month saves money and extends the life of your home’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. More than half of your


monthly energy bill goes toward keeping your home comfortable. While air filters prevent pesky dust and annoying allergens from clogging your HVAC system, dirt, like aging arteries, builds up over time. If left unchecked, a dirty filter strains a home’s heart and forces the HVAC system to work harder to push conditioned air through tight spaces. Tis results in higher energy bills and— potentially—system failure.


Filter Facts Air filters protect HVAC


systems and perform double-duty by collecting some lose dirt from the air. Tese handy sieves live in duct system slots or in return grilles of central air conditioners, furnaces, and heat pumps. Successful filters have a


short lifespan—the better a filter catches dirt, the faster it gets clogged and must be cleaned or replaced. Leaving a dirty air filter in place cuts a home’s air quality and reduces HVAC system airflow.


10 March 2013 While removing a clogged


filter altogether relieves pressure on the system, the system can’t perform well without one. Unfiltered dust and grime accumulate on critical parts like the evaporator coil, causing unnecessary wear and tear.


Monthly Check-up Te U.S. Department of


Energy (DOE) advises checking an air filter once a month and replacing it at least every three months. It’s critical to inspect and replace filters before seasons of heavy use like summer and winter. If you have pets or smokers


in the home, filters clog quickly. Remodeling projects or furniture sanding add more dirt than normal; a filter may need to be changed before the average three- month lifespan expires. Turn your heating and cooling


system off before checking your filter. Slide the filter out of your duct work, and look for layers of hair and dirt. Run a finger across the filter. If the finger comes away dirty or there’s a line left on the filter, it’s time for a change. When replacing the filter,


make sure the arrow on the filter indicating the direction of the airflow points toward the blower motor. To help schedule monthly check-ups, write the date on the side of the filter so you know


Need help remembering how long a filter’s been in place? When you replace a filter, write the date on the side. Check the filter once a month, and replace it at least every three months. (NRECA)


How do you know when a filter must be replaced? Check to see if air can get through. This dirty filter was left in place for six months—layers of dirt and hair prevent air from entering the home’s HVAC system. (NRECA)


when it needs to be checked again. Once you’ve made the change, turn your system back on.


Filtering Choices Shopping for a new filter?


Before you leave home, write down the size printed on the side of your current filter. If you


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