subject: Save Time, Money, And The Environment With Washable Furnace Filters [print this page] Also known as a condensing furnace, a household furnace is a major appliance in most American homes. It provides heat when the temperature falls though fluid and air movement, which may include hot water, air, gas, or steam. At present, natural gas is the most popular fuel in home furnaces in North America.
Unlike their predecessors, modern household furnaces are extremely efficient and do not produce much waste. They do not even require a chimney to expel waste gases, but rather a small tube that provides ventilation and runs through the side wall or roof of the home. Of course, not all furnaces are exactly equal. Some are more efficient than others.
Based on their ability to extract heat from exhaust gases, household furnaces are classified as either non-condensing or condensing. If they have an efficiency greater than 89 percent, they must be labeled condensing furnaces, and if they are below that level, they must be labeled non-condensing furnaces.
The more efficient modern condensing furnaces typically provide cost savings of twenty to thirty-five percent. It is even possible to improve on those savings by replacing your disposable furnace filters with reusable ones.
Whats the difference?
Regular furnace filters are made of spun fiberglass or cloth and have cardboards frames. They are not designed for to last for more than a few months. In fact, most manufacturers recommend replacement after only a month or two of heavy use. Their sole advantage over permanent furnace filters is that they are less expensive, which is why they are often the filter of choice at secondary residences, such as beach or lake houses. In other words, if you only need to change the filter once a year, when you are using your pied--terre, it may make sense to stick with disposable furnace filters. But at your primary residence, it is always better to use washable furnace filters.
Cost savings
Washable furnace filters last for an average of five years, during which time you would have gone through twenty to sixty disposable furnace filters. Not to mention the fact that disposable filters are not nearly as efficient as permanent ones. According to our research, these filters remove up to 95 percent of the dirt, pollutants, and allergens that make it into your household furnace. This improved efficiency will not only result in a cleaner, healthier household, it will also save you beaucoup bucks!
Environmental impact
Discarding disposable filters every 1 to 3 months is obviously a waste of time and space. These devices are not recyclable and ultimately end up in landfills and storage dumps. By comparison, a good washable furnace filter will last for at least five years, maybe more! Some homeowners use them for decades before they wear out!
Maintenance
Still, some users worry that reusable furnace filters require more care than the disposable variety, which can simply be discarded when they wear out. But the truth is that permanent filters are a cinch to clean. Just like the filters in your dryer, they can be removed and either swept clean or sprayed with a garden hose if theyre really dirty.
