Keep your HVAC from being a Energy Waster

According to EnergyStar, a division of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), energy bills can differ depending on the size and location on your home, but the average household spends $2,200 a year. The good news is these costs can be cut dramatically.

EnergyStar, a program started in 1992 to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lower energy costs for consumers, offers suggestions for how to reduce your annual electric costs by a third. In other words, you can save about $700 a year on electricity. Last year, Americans saved about $17 billion on energy bills and reduced green house gas emissions by nearly the equivalent of 30 million cars.

If you really want to cut back on your energy use, you need to focus on heating and cooling your home, That's because these two categories combined account for 46% of your overall electric bill. While most homeowners can't afford a complete overhaul of their homes' heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems, some changes can increase energy efficiency and include:

• Installing a programmable thermostat, which lets you set temperatures for specific times of day. These devices can save about $180 each year on energy costs.

• Change air filters regularly. The harder your HVAC unit has to work, the more energy it eats away. Filters should really be changed out monthly, especially during the summer and winter months when the HVAC unit has a heavy workload. If you find this tedious, EnergyStar suggests changing filters a minimum of every three months.

• Seal your heating and cooling ducts, especially those running through the attic, crawlspace, unheated basement or garage, as that improves the efficiency of your HVAC unit by as much as 20%.

Flanders Precisionaire Pre-Pleat 40 LPD

One of the best filters we sell at RememberTheFilter.com is the Flanders Precisionaire Pre Pleat 40 LPD. This filter has undergone some changes that have made it one of the best MERV 8 filters in the industry. Part numbers for the Pre Pleat 40 have remained unchanged but the filter does have a new and improved look to it. The Pre Pleat 4o LPD filters can be used in both residential and commercial systems. Just because the filters look the same doesn't mean they perfom the same, there is a big differnce between the Flanders Pre Pleat 4o LPD filters and the cheaper filters out in the marketplace. A good filter will save you money over the long run in both utility usage and costly repair bills due to cheap pleated filters that are made below standards but may share the same MERV rating.

The Flanders Pre Pleat 40 LPD is a standard capacity pleated air filter. Since 2004 other manufactures have altered media blends to meet the LEED and market driven demand for a non-electric MERV 8 filters. This has led to pressure drop increases in their filters of 25% or more. A pressure drop increase of 25% can have a huge impact on the system and should be avoided as it can drive up utility usage and increase wear and tear on the system. Utilizing a unique new fiber technology, Flanders Precisionaire research & development team has now achieved the multiple goals of maintaining MERV 8 performance at a resistance that is 40% lower than competition. At the same time, the LPD´s (low pressure drop) dust holding capacity remains the highest in the industry. All this while operating on 100% mechanical principles.

Flanders is committed to continuously developing new and improved products to assist in an environmentally responsible, healthy, and prosperous environment. Flanders Pre Pleat 40 LPD achieves the highest dust holding capacity and the lowest pressure drop in the industry, while maintaining a mechanical MERV 8 per ASHRAE Standard 52.2-2007.

As an authorized retailer of Flanders Precisionaire filters we are here to help answer any questions you may have. Click here to be directed to the new and improved Flanders Precisionaire Pre Pleat 4o LPD Filters, the best MERV 8 filter you can buy!