Improve your HVAC’s efficiency with proper air filter care
Our energy service expert shares when, why you should replace your filter
One of the easiest, most important things you can do to ensure the efficiency of your HVAC system is to routinely replace your air filter. A clogged or dirty filter makes your system have to work much harder to take air in. Replacing it regularly with a clean filter could reduce your energy consumption by 5–15 percent. But there’s a number of variables that affect how often you should change your filter.
“It’s simple, but change your air filter only if it’s dirty or clogged,” PEC Senior Energy Service Advisor Chris Denison said. “There are two different types of air filters. If you have one air filter for an entire house, it’s common to have the filter replaced every six months, but if you have an air filter grille, you might have to replace the filter more often if you have pets or allergies. It just depends what kind of system you have.”
Denison also mentioned that high micron air filters, which are said to capture larger particles of dirt, dust and hair for people prone to allergies, are not always a better option for your system.
“The purpose of an air filter is to help your HVAC run smoothly and eliminate particles from the air conditioner’s coils,” Dension explained. “And high micron air filters are denser, which minimizes optimal air flow. You don’t want to ever restrict that in your space.”
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