When paying to maintain your home, one of the highest costs after your mortgage is the cost of energy. Fortunately, you can make an easy change to your home routine that will lower energy costs – changing your furnace filter regularly.
How is this possible, you ask?
The science behind this is actually pretty simple. Your furnace works by pulling air through the filter. If your filter becomes too clogged, your furnace has to work harder. This drives up your heating costs, and also increases the wear and tear on your furnace. You can prevent this problem by changing and cleaning the filter on a regular basis.
When to /Change your Filter
There’s no set standard on how often to change your filters. Manufacturers vary on these standards. It’s always best to read the instructions of the manufacturer of the particular filter you’re using, though during high-use seasons, once a month is a good rule of thumb.
The more efficient your filter works at collecting dirt and debris, the more it will need to be changed. This is because that filter is collecting more particulates, clogging it all the sooner. When selecting a furnace filter, consider one with a MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) of between 5 and 13, rather than a basic low-MERV filter of 1 to 4. The higher the number the smaller the particulates it will pick up, though the highest MERV filters also pose the risk of impeding air flow. This can make your furnace work just as hard as if the filter was clogged with debris. If the higher-efficiency filter you select costs a bit more, consider that over the long run, a better filter will allow your furnace to operate more efficiently and with less wear and tear.
For more information about selecting furnace filters in your Fresno area home, contact Donald P. Dick Air Conditioningtoday.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about furnace filters and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Donald P Dick Air Conditioning services the greater Fresno area in California. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!
Furnace Filter Maintenance image via Shutterstock