Does the presence of the filter affect the efficiency of the HVAC system?
Yes. Both the filter and dirty A/C coil are the main reasons the airflow in HVAC systems are restricted to dangerously low levels. For example, the A/C coil needs 400 cubic feet per minute (CFM) of air per ton to operate effectively, yet the nations 89 million HVAC systems operate at only about 265 CFM per ton. This in turn, causes the nation systems to oprate at approximently 34% below their efficiency ratings, wasting approximately 212 billion kWh of electricity annually. This waste represents the amount of energy that could operate 17.2 million homes for one year!
