Published on December 18th, 2014 | If you’re looking for a quick, easy and inexpensive way to make your home more energy efficient, try installing a filter whistle on the filter of your homes HVAC (Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning) system. Filter whistles are simple devices that, when clogged, start to whistle. So this is effectively an “alarm” that tells you when your filter needs to be cleaned or replaced. Keeping your filter clean will not only help to ensure that your system is using energy efficiently, they’ll also help to ensure that your HVAC system is pumping clean, debris free air throughout your home. When your HVAC systems filter becomes dirty and clogged it forces your system to work harder to circulate air throughout your home, which in turn causes it to use more energy and cost you more money. Just follow these easy steps to install a filter whistle and start saving both money and energy today. Things you’ll need for the job: Before getting started, check out this quick video to see just how easy it is to install a filter whistle:

1. Locate your HVAC systems filter. Depending on your system, the filter could be located in a number of different locations. In some cases it could be behind a grate in the wall or ceiling of your home, or possibly located on the HVAC unit itself. If you’re unsure of where your units filter is, check with the owners manual that came with your unit or contact the installer.how big of a central air conditioning unit do i need 2. Remove the filter. small through the wall air conditioner unitsOnce you’ve located the filter for your unit, removing it is as easy as sliding it out of place. changing filter in ac unitIn some cases you may need to remove a protective housing, but it should slide out with little to no resistance.

Once you’ve removed the filter be sure to give it a visual inspection, does it it need to be replaced? If so, be sure to have a replacement filter handy. 3. Install the filter whistle. Your filter whistle will come in two pieces (a “base” and “hat”). All you have to do is align the two pieces on the appropriate side of the filter and press them together/ through the filter. You’ll want to be sure that the base is facing the direction of the incoming airflow and that the cap is on the opposite side, where the air exits the filter. 4. Install the filter back into your HVAC system. Now that you’ve installed the filter whistle all you have to do is put the filter back in place. Just be sure it’s facing the right way, otherwise the filter whistle won’t work properly. Once you’ve put the filter back in place (and any any other coverings or grates) you’re all set. If you are working with a reusable air filter, you can still put in a filter whistle. I wrote AM Conservation, a wholesaler of all things home efficiency, and they said that the whistle can be reused over and over, even on a reusable filter.

The key, they said, is to make sure that the hole around the filter whistle is a snug one–if there’s air flow around the whistle, it will not work as well. If you’re looking for more ways to make your home energy efficient, be sure to check out our green home improvement projects: Green Living Ideas, after all, is a top 20 home improvement website! Furnace Filter Whistle Install from National Energy Foundation on Vimeo. Photo courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons (Dirty Filter) Guide to Replacing Your Air Filter When the temperature starts rising, you and your family rely more and more on the air conditioner to keep you cool. is one of the top reasons for poor AC performance. is to be proactive about your AC care, so that at peak usage, the unit is performing at top capacity. If you haven’t thought about filter replacement for a while, don’t put it off any longer. heater repair experts at Aire Serv® explain how it’s done. Why Does Filter Replacement Matter?

The air handler is going to pull air into the unit whether the filter isThe question is: How hard are you going to make it work? The job of an AC filter is to remove debris from the air before it entersWhen things clog up, the unit pulls that much harder and uses more energy—causing a substantial rise in the electric bill. Dirt in the filter also shortens the life of your air conditioner because dirt pulls into the inner workings of the unit. The strain on the fan and motor from the increased effort will take its toll, as well. Filter Replacement Helps Combat Allergies For families plagued by allergies, changing the AC filter is one way to improve the air quality in your home. All the dust mites, pet dander, and other allergens that a clean filter traps are getting through theAir conditioners pull air in from outside the house, as well. Even outdoor pollutants and pollen are potential risk factors when theFor people with sensitive allergies, it is necessary to

use a clean high-efficiency filter to remove spores from the air, too. Tips & Tricks for Filter Replacement Here are our top tips and tricks for replacing your filter: Check the service manual to see the proper filter size and style. this information down, so that when you shop for filters you have it handy. The wrong size filter reduces its effectiveness. When you filter shop, buy them by the case or stock up for several months. Find a convenient storage area nearby to make changing the filter a breeze. Pet owners should plan to change the AC or heater filter more often, perhaps twice as often for longhaired breeds. Pay attention to the arrow markers on the filter. This indicates what direction to install the units. Putting the filter in wrong affects the airflowWrite the date on the filter in pen. reference, so you know when it was last changed. How Do I Find the Filter? Filter location will depend on the type of AC unit in your home, but look