Tips to Remember to Change Your Air Filter

Any steps you take to remember to check and change the air filter for your HVAC system are worthwhile. A dirty filter undermines your system’s energy efficiency and ranks at the top for causing premature mechanical problems.

When the filter gets dirty, the airflow through the blower compartment slows down and it takes the air conditioner longer to cool your home.

If the airflow slows too much, ice may form on the evaporator coil, which could stop the cooling altogether. Besides heating up the temperature in your home, a frozen coil can burn out the compressor in the outdoor condenser, resulting in a costly repair.

Use one of these tips to help you remember to replace your filters on a regular basis and help to cut energy costs and increase equipment durability.

• Inspect the filter when you get your electric bill. It’s an easy mental leap from the bill to the filter, since a clean filter promotes lower energy consumption and energy bills.
• Check the filter on the last payday of the month. When you run your system with a clean filter, you’re electric bill will be lower, leaving you with more money at the end of the month. The small cost of an air filter is easily offset by energy savings.
• Make it a chore. If you have kids old enough to be responsible, assign the chore to one of them on a rotating monthly basis.

  Even if they’re not old enough to change the filter themselves, ask them to remind you to check it. They’ll be able to earn a little extra from their allowance and learn about the value of appliance maintenance and lower energy costs.

• Program your phone to remind you once a month.
• Upgrade your thermostat to a compatible Wi-Fi thermostat. Besides taking advantage of daily temperature setbacks to save energy, you can program it to alert you to check the filter.

A clean air filter is essential for efficient system operation and remembering to check and change it results in lower operating costs. To learn more, contact C.R. Wolfe Heating & Air Conditioning, providing trusted HVAC services for Middletown homeowners since 1945.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Middletown, New York about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about air filters and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 845-367-4482.

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