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This is part 8 on ways to take steps to make you home more energy efficient. You can go to the previous entry Part 7 or go to the next entry Part 9 here.
Changing your air filter in your house is important and should be done on a regular basis. That being said a lot of people neglect doing it. Much like a air filter on your car that helps make it run better, in your house it does the same thing. The main reason to change the filter is that they prevent particles from entering the HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) system. The cleaner the air the more efficient the system. If the filter is dirty the intake can put strain on the system to get an adequate air flow. It also helps to remove bacteria, pollen, and dirt from being circulated throughout the house.
According to EnergyStar keeping your filter replaced properly can reduce your Air conditioning cost by 5-15%. This Question and Answer from the Washington Post also has a lot of good tips for helping to maintain your
The next important thing is how often to replace them. If they are general fiberglass they should be replaced every one to three months. It can vary depending on the season, in the Summer and Winter when your HVAC system is running more often you may want to replace them monthly. Newer pleated can generally last three months to 1 year. The length of time each filter should last can typically be found on the packaging or in the system.
It is also important to have your HVAC system tuned up yearly to improve efficiencies in it and keep it running longer. Another tip from Energy Star is to make sure your duct work that is exposed is sealed properly and possibly insulated if possible.
This is an excellent point - and the root of which is that the systems in your house and building are only as good as they are maintained. Regardless of how well they may rate on efficiency, they can only work at optimal levels if you make sure to maintain them properly.
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