Regularly changing your air filters can have a huge impact on your energy bill! Even though they cost about $15-$20 each, you can end up saving money by increasing the efficiency of your airflow and thus reducing your electricity usage!
Most HVAC professionals will tell you to swap out old filters for a new one every 3 months or roughly 4 times per year, which can be $40-$80 per year, per filter, in your house. This obviously can be a significant expense depending on the number of filters that you have, but if you take a look at how much you’ll save on electricity costs it makes sense.
The Department of Energy states that replacing an old air filter with a clean one can reduce energy consumption by as much as 15%. Now considering that your HVAC accounts for roughly half of your energy bill, you could be looking at saving as much as 7.5% every on your electricity costs every month!
If we do some quick math, say you spend $200 per month on electricity, you would save about $15 a month if you regularly change your filters or $45 per 3 months. That’s a savings of $160 per year, which is almost double what it costs to purchase the air filters (at the higher price), that’s a 100% ROI!
Additionally, another hidden benefit too regularly replacing your air filters is that your HVAC system does not need to work as hard to push air into your home. The dirtier the air filter, the harder it is for air to flow smoothly through it. By ensuring that your air filters are running smoothly throughout the year, you can reduce the chances of needing maintenance on your HVAC system, which can be huge when major components cost between $300 and $700!
We recommend implementing this energy-saving strategy immediately if you are looking for energy savings! Not only can it save you a decent chunk of change ever year, but it also can save larger costs from your HVAC system needing maintenance and it’s quick and easy to do!