Air Filters Air Filters A Factsheet from Austin Energy's Green Building Program Most Central Texas homes now have forced-air heating and cooling systems. An important part of the system is the air filter, which the homeowner must regularly purchase, install, and clean or change. As conditioned air is blown from the supply ducts into the living space of a home, it picks up dust, pollen, and other particles, which get carried back to the indoor unit through the return air duct. The filter intercepts some of these particles to keep them from clogging up the blower and cooling coil. If these parts get dirty, airflow is restricted, and the unit can't do a good job of cooling.
Comfort is reduced, operating costs rise, and the equipment wears out prematurely.
Some filters not only protect the equipment, they also improve the quality of the conditioned air in the home. Better air quality means better health for the inhabitants, especially in regard to reducing respiratory ailments and allergies. Contrary to popular belief, however, most homes don't have such air improving filters. The more you want to filter out, the higher the efficiency of the filter needs to be. Some filters require more frequent changing than others, and prices vary.