Tip of The Week

July 25, 2009

Let’s talk about furnace filters.  I have been preaching about this for years and I fear that I sound like my depression era parents when I harp about being “penny-wise and pound-foolish”.  I really don’t worry about that.  My advice is simple; when it comes to furnace filter, don’t be a wimp.

It is my suggestion that you fork out the few extra bucks a year to buy a good furnace filter.  Here’s why:

     1)  The money you spend today saves you in the long run.  Those cheap filters, the one’s you can see through, let too much dust through them.  This dust collects on the wet evaporator coil and clings to it.

     2)  Clinging dust stays wet on the evaporator coil and is perfect spawning ground for mold, and other allergens.  If you’ve ever seen an evaporator coil that needs cleaning then you know there are only two words to accurately describe what you see… ”Nasty funk!"

     3)  The evaporator coil is what cools the air as it passes through.  If it is coated with funk it does not cool efficiently.  That’s right, it will take longer to cool your home thus costing you the money you saved by purchasing the less expensive filters.

     4)  Dirty sock syndrome.  That is what people in the business call the issue in some homes. Dirty sock syndrome happens during the summer when the Air conditioning is running.  The “nasty funk” (to use a technical term) that builds up on the evaporator coil accommodates the growth of bacteria and thus the smell.

     5)  A good filter, changed regularly, prevents the build up of “nasty funk” so your home smells better and is easier to cool.

OK, with all that said the question remains; what kind of filter should I purchase?  There are lots of options but if you’re looking for a good balance between cost, ease of use and effectiveness, then the pleated filters are your best bet.

Don’t be wimp!  Fight the funk!

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