When is the last time you changed your ac or furnace filter? Chances are, unless you are pretty diligent, you likely forget to change your ac or furnace filter as often as you should.

We recommend changing your AC or furnace filter at least every 90 days, or if you or anyone in your family has health issues, allergies to dust mites and pollen or other irritants. To make it really easy to remember when to change your filters, you can use Nordic’s free reminder service so you never forget, ask one of our customer service associates when you order next!

AC and furnace filters work by trapping particulates that are suspended in your indoor air in the filter material, a sheet of polyester fabric that is woven for strength and performance.

As air flows through the system, particulates are trapped in the fabric of the filter. As particulates build up over time, they residually “plug” the filter. The resulting reduction in air flow forces the HVAC system to work harder to push the same amount of air through the system. This results in increased operating costs. Further, as the filter gets “plugged” with contaminants, the ability to purify the air that is flowing through the system is diminished.

An even better way of keeping up with the filter in your HVAC System is to install an Air Gauge that tells you the condition of your filter.

Our preferred system is the General Air Gauge. The G-99 Air Filter Gage provides a visual indication of the need to replace the air filters in forced air heating and cooling systems thereby eliminating any guesswork about the condition of your ac or furnace filter.  The gage is installed between the blower and the filter where a slight vacuum exists due to the air flow resistance of the air filter.  Air flowing into the gage, around the calibration screw, lifts a vane in proportion to the negative pressure in the blower compartment.  As the air filter loads, the vacuum increases, raising the vane to indicate a filter change is necessary.

The gage may be calibrated in a negative pressure range from 0.1 to 0.4 inch w.c.  When properly calibrated in this range a vacuum increase of 0.10 to 0.15 inch w.c. will indicate a filter change is necessary.

If you are looking for the perfect solution to maintaining optimum efficiency of your heating and/or cooling system, please consider the GeneralAire Air Gauge.