A filter clogged with dust and dirt causes your heating and cooling system to run longer than nessassary. The Department of Energy (DOE) estimates that once an air filter is clogged, the heating and cooling system uses 15% more energy than a new air filter. The inefficiency increases quickly as the filter become more clogged. The DOE has also estimates that, on average, half of household energy use is for heating and cooling. A conservative estimate of what you can save from running your system with a clean air filter is to take half of your average monthly energy bill, multiply it by 15%. This is the amount you will save every month you have a clean instead of clogged filter. This is how we calculated the savings in the table. These are not just one-time savings, but continue year after year.

Saving all this money on your utility bills isn’t motivation enough for you to maintain your air filters, do it for the planet. That seemingly trivial task can create significant monetary and environmental savings. Clean air filters are energy efficient and also provide better comfort and air quality.