This content was created by Derek Cole. This content was uploaded by Derek Cole. This is a podcast episode titled "513. #1 of Top 4 tips for having a cool summer" (PODCAST) published 2023-04-20. A single speaker/host provides practical HVAC advice focused on Tip #1: changing air filters every 30–60 days. The speaker explains problems caused by dirty or bypassing filters, issues with high-MERV filters that can restrict airflow, how restricted airflow can make the unit draw air from attics/crawlspaces or freeze up, and cites Energy Star guidance that changing filters can improve energy efficiency by 5–15%. The host notes additional tips (2–4) will be covered separately and emphasizes this is an easy DIY step that doesn’t require a technician.
Questions this episode answers
Every 30 days (or every 60 days in some cases).
Improve energy efficiency by 5–15%.
Chapters
Number one tip, air filters. You should be changing your air filters every 30 days. If, if you're not having to change your air filters every 30 days or every 60 days, it's because your filter isn't getting dirty. Then if your filter is not getting dirty and you're in this time of the year where summer and your unit is running, your filter is not getting dirty is also a problem. That means that it's not going through the filter to get back to the unit, is bypassing the filter. So it could be something as simple as your filter needs to be changed, or your filter, you might have went to big box store and got the, you know, the MERV file 13 or MERV 12 or 11 allergy type filter. And that could also be a problem because your system is too tight to handle that kind of filter at the filter grill. So it's bypassing that filter because the air, the air, the unit, the unit's going to get the air it needs. Okay, so what you want to do is make it as easy as possible for the air to get back to unit. Obviously you want clean conditioned air that is coming from your home through the air filter, through the return duct back to your unit. Now, if it's too tight, if the, if the filter is too much, it's too tight, or it's blocked or it's not been changed, the unit could freeze up and it's going to start getting the air it needs from the crawl space that if it's an attic, the attic outside, it's gonna, it's gonna suck the air from wherever it needs to get it from to get what needs to be gotten. That's that park rings. I'm sure it needs to, it needs to get there, and it's going to get there. Air is just like water. It's going to find the path of least resistance and get to where it's going. So you want to make it as easy as possible to get that air back to unit. So you want that air to flow through your air filter or air cleaner. If you have that before it gets to the unit, that way you're controlling the air. You're controlling the particles, the pollutants, whatever's in the air, you're controlling and starting to control what is coming back to that system. Because again, it's going to get the air it needs. Now the next while we're going to go over, you have tips 2, 3, and 4. But today I wanted to go over tip 1. I didn't want to make it a long podcast, but tip one is something I say every month, but it is the error filter they say. Energy Star states that just by changing your filter, just by doing this one simple act, you can affect your energy efficiency 5 to 15%. It's also the one thing that you can do without needing a service professional, a service technician to come to your house. You can change and check your filter, but that is tip number one to have a cool summer.
