Do it Yourself
Saving Energy: Heating &
Air Conditioning
Buying New Equipment - Furnace Filters
Changing or cleaning the furnace filter is one of the easiest things you can do to prolong the life of your heating and air conditioning system – and keep it operating efficiently.
Keep in mind that all furnace filters are not created equal - especially if you have allergies, asthma or other respiratory problems.
Types of air filters
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Disposable fiberglass filters are the least expensive - and also the least effective, designed to block only large dust and dirt particles to protect your furnace. Smaller particles, like pollen and mold, pass right through. |
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Washable "electrostatic" filters have a static charge that attracts dust, dirt and other matter. These filters are slightly more effective than disposable, but still block only 15 to 20 percent of airborne particles. |
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Pleated "allergy" filters use a much denser mesh material to trap particles. The pleats increase the surface area, eliminating large allergens like pollen and mold – most are 35 to 50 percent efficient. |
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Electronic air cleaners use electrodes to create an ionized electrical field that “magnetizes” pollutant particles and collects them on the filter material. An electronic unit can eliminate virtually all pollen and mold spores. |
HEPA filters, which stands for High Efficiency Particulate Air filters, are the “gold standard.” These filters are used in commercial applications like hospitals, research facilities and electronics manufacturing where clean air is vital. HEPA filters not only block air particles, but also air flow, so they're not recommended for residential use.
Choosing the right filter
If allergies and respiratory problems aren't a concern for your family, a disposable or washable filter can be enough to keep your furnace clean. But it's important to change or clean the filter every month – remember that dust and dirt are the cause of half the repair calls to service technicians!
A pleated filter is a cost-effective option for reducing allergens. These filters cost around $5-$15 each, but are designed to last up to three months. A high-efficiency pleated air filter, shown in the photo at right, costs around $250 to $450. Electronic air cleaners are expensive, ranging from $650 to $850, but they're the best at removing harmful particles and pollutants from the air. In many cases, the initial cost can be offset with lower medical bills. |
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Keep the blower fan running
No matter what type of filter you choose, it will work best if you keep the blower fan running continuously.
According to Home Energy magazine, if the fan is set to “auto,” it's running only 20 percent of the time – meaning your furnace filter will trap only 20 percent of the 50 percent of the particles it's designed for – resulting in only a 10 percent overall efficiency.
Setting the fan to “on” will also help keep air circulating through your home, preventing the warm air from rising and pooling near the ceiling and increasing your comfort.
DID YOU KNOW:
- Removal of up to 99.98% of particles and allergens from your filtered indoor air.
- An industry-leading clean air delivery rate of 1,200.
- Low operating costs, with no replacement filters to buy.
- Cleaning indicators easily visible on the outside of the unit.
- Easy to clean filters–just vacuum or rinse once every 3 to 9 months (depending on usage).
- Easy installation.
- Quiet operation.
- Minimal ozone generated, less than 5 PPB (parts per billion), well below the 10 PPB FDA voluntary emission limit for medical devices and significantly below some ionic-type room appliances that may reach hundreds of PPBs.
- Low pressure drop.
