Do Smart Air Filters Save You Money?

Of all the chores you do around the house, how often does changing your HVAC’s air filters make it to the top of the list? Be honest. If you want an easy way to see when you need to change your filters, smart air filters provide that information straight to your phone. 

Changing your air filters as recommended keeps your home air quality healthy and your heating and cooling comfortable. It can even save you by avoiding or delaying major repairs later in the lifespan of your HVAC system. 

Here’s how smart air filters could save you money, and how much. 

Smart Air Filters Explained

A smart air filter is an HVAC filter that monitors its condition with sensors and uses Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity to send information to an app.

Unlike traditional filters that depend on you remembering to change them as recommended, a smart air filter tracks factors like airflow restriction and usage to notify you of its status. When the filter becomes clogged and needs changing, the app notifies you so you can replace the filter exactly when needed, optimizing indoor air quality, heating and cooling efficiency, and the HVAC system’s lifespan.

Do Smart Air Filters Save You Money?

Smart air filters generally cost more than standard home HVAC air filters. So, do smart air filters save you money even with the added upfront cost?

Smart air filters could save you money over the long run with improved HVAC efficiency, meaning less energy usage, and by extending the lifespan of your HVAC system so you have longer without major maintenance problems and buying a new system. However, it’s difficult to find concrete numbers on savings.

Consistently replacing your air filter, aided by a smart air filter, is a key factor in HVAC efficiency and longevity, your comfort, and healthy air quality. With a dirty air filter, your heating and cooling will need to run harder and longer to get to the set temperature.

Other Ways to Save Money With Home Efficiency

Combining smart air filters with other smart HVAC technology such as smart thermostats can lead to larger savings. Integration often occurs through a central smart home platform or hub, or with communication between compatible devices.

A home energy monitoring system can track and give you insights about your home’s energy usage, including your heating and cooling. You can get real-time data and make informed  decisions about, for example, when to run appliances given peak or off-peak electric rate periods, how to avoid using vampire energy, or when to charge an electric vehicle.

Bigger changes such as installing home solar panels or an energy-efficient heat pump for heating and cooling could have greater savings potential, too. 

With home solar power, you can run your heating, cooling and water heating, which is about 52% of the average American home’s energy usage (and bills) according to the US Energy Information Administration, all or mostly on free, clean, renewable energy. To learn more and get estimates for your exact property, you can use our HVAC advisor tool or our solar savings calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are smart filters?

A smart air filter is an HVAC filter that monitors its condition with sensors and has connectivity to send information to an app.

Can smart home devices save you money?

Smart home devices, such as smart thermostats, smart plugs, smart air filters, smart heat pump dryers, and more, can save you money by giving you improved energy efficiency.

What are the benefits of smart air filters?

Smart air filters monitor their efficiency with sensors that track filter use according to your HVAC system’s running time or a drop in air pressure going through the filter. They let you know when it’s time to change filters. This lets you take better care of your overall HVAC system, increasing its efficiency and lifespan.