Did you know neglecting to check your furnace and air conditioning filters on a regular basis can negatively impact your home’s energy efficiency?

A dirty filter slows air flow and makes these systems work harder, using more energy in the process.

To keep your household’s energy savings flowing, remember to routinely check, clean and change out your air filters. Here are some tips to get started:

• During the heavy-use months of winter and summer, filters should be checked once a month.
• You should clean or replace your air filter a minimum of every three months, following the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Always turn off your furnace at the breaker panel to disconnect it before replacing your filter. Some furnaces have wiring close to the filter location that could result in an electrical shock if the power is not disconnected first.
• Buy your filters by the case and store them in an easily accessible location. Buying in bulk helps reduce costs and lessens the tendency to procrastinate when the time comes for a filter change.
• Get in the routine of regular filter changes just like you do with your car’s engine oil.
• Many factors affect the replacement frequency. If you suffer from allergies, have a larger home, completed a construction project recently or are a pet owner, you will need to change your filters more often.
• Never run your system with an incorrectly sized filter. An ill-fitting filter will allow dust and other contaminates to sneak around the filter and into your home.