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Can I do away with my furnace filter and install a return grille air filter instead?

Jun 16, 2008 by fortyozguzzler | Posted in Maintenance & Repairs

I would rather have a return grille air filter instead of using a furnace filter because of the confined space my central air/furnace is located in.
Also, out of sheer curiosity. Are there any repercussions in using both filters?

Francis G is right, with one other note. The assumption is that you only have one return air grille. If you have multiple return airs, you would need a filter in each one. That's why you usually find the filter in the unit, because it will filter all

Furnace Air Filter Video

Learn how to replace or clean your air filter.

101 Energy Saving Tips – Part 2 of 5

Are you ready for the next installment of tips to save energy in our everyday lives?

Without further ado, here are tips 21 to 40: 

21)          Dry towels and heavier cottons in a separate load from lighter-weight clothes. 

22)          ENERGY STAR® computers and monitors save energy only when the power management features are activated, so make sure power management is activated on your computer.

 23)          For older appliances, use a power-controlling device to reduce the energy consumption of the appliance’s electric motor.

 24)          There is a common misconception that screen savers reduce energy use of monitors; they do not.  Screen savers were designed to prevent phosphor burn of monochrome monitors.  On today’s monitors, they do not have any benefit at all.  Automatic switching to sleep mode or manually turning monitors off is always the best energy-saving strategy.

 25)          Unplug battery chargers when the batteries are fully charged or the chargers are not in use.

 26)          Use the cool-down cycle to allow the clothes to finish drying with the residual heat in the dryer.

 27)          Your contractor should be able to give you energy fact sheets for different types, models, and designs to help you compare energy usage.  For furnaces, look for high Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) ratings.  The national minimum is 78% AFUE, but there are ENERGY STAR® models on the market that exceed 90% AFUE.

 28)          Place heat-resistant radiator reflectors between exterior walls and the radiators.

 29)          Bleed trapped air from hot-water radiators once or twice a season; if in doubt about how to perform this task, call a professional.

 30)          Clean warm-air registers, baseboard heaters, and radiators as needed.  Make sure they’re not blocked by furniture, carpeting, or drapes.

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