You can have cleaner air and make sure your heating and cooling system works at top efficiency by doing one simple maintenance task: changing filters regularly. Not changing your filters as recommended by the manufacturer can lead to higher energy bills and reduced equipment performance.

Running a system with a dirty filter makes it work harder and longer. If you run a heating and cooling system without the filter, the dirt builds up on the inside, which can shorten the operating life and increase operating costs.

Most standard filters should be changed — or at least checked — monthly. One way to remember is to change your filter each month when your Jackson EMC bill arrives. If you find a heavy buildup of dust on the filters even when changing them frequently, you could have leaky ducts or other problems with your heating and cooling system.

The dust in your home can include pollen, mold spores and pet dander. These particles can irritate your eyes, nose and lungs and may cause allergic reactions. Filters can help reduce the level of dust and contaminants in your home, although they don't have any effect on gases such as radon and carbon monoxide. If anyone in your household has respiratory problems, it's even more important to buy better quality filters and change them frequently.

To replace standard filters, begin by turning off the heating or air conditioning and removing the old filter. Check the operating instructions for your system to find out how to change the filter, or, if the instructions are not available, be sure to see how the old filter is held in place.

Clean up the dust around the filter and then install the new filter. The arrow on the filter should point away from the return air duct and towards the blower. If there's a cover over the filter, be sure to reattach it securely. Then turn the system back on. Leaks around the frame of the filter will reduce the filter's effectiveness. You can use weather stripping to seal gaps around the frame.

Most systems use inexpensive flat one-inch-thick fiberglass filters. The more expensive pleated and high efficiency pleated filters, which have a permanent electrostatic charge that captures tiny particles, are significantly better at cleaning the air than plain fiberglass filters.

You can also have more elaborate filters added to your heating and cooling system by HVAC professionals. Extended or dense media filters are made of accordion-pleated filter material about four inches thick and are usually replaced once a year. Electronic precipitators attract dust to charged plates inside the precipitator. They should be removed and washed thoroughly once a month.

For more information about indoor air quality, see the American Lung Association's Health House at www.HealthHouse.org.