Will the NovusAer Improve the Performance of My Air Conditioner?

Response by Dan Dearden, CAFS

In most homes, the answer is yes. When we talk about the “performance” of an air conditioner, we’re really talking about three things: capacity, efficiency, and comfort. Let’s look at how a NovusAer system can make a difference in each area.

1. Capacity: How Much Cooling You Actually Get

According to the National Comfort Institute, the average home heating and cooling system in the U.S. only delivers about 57% of its rated capacity. After nearly five decades as an HVAC service technician, I can confirm that number is accurate. I’ve even seen systems that performed at only 35% of their designed capacity—and the culprit was almost always poor airflow.

And what’s the biggest cause of poor airflow? You guessed it: the air filter.

Here’s a common scenario. A contractor installs a standard 16" x 25" x 1" filter slot—a size that’s too small for most systems. Later, the homeowner, assuming the system was designed correctly, replaces the filter with the same size. Wanting clean air, they might choose a high-efficiency MERV 14 filter like the Filtrete 2500 from Costco. It’s an excellent filter that captures up to 90% of PM2.5 particles—but the tradeoff is that it’s very restrictive to airflow.

In fact, it can be three times more restrictive than what the manufacturer designed the system for. This kind of restriction can reduce your system’s capacity to the point that it struggles to cool the home properly.

As a technician, I’ve often solved “broken” air conditioners simply by swapping out a restrictive filter for one that allows better airflow.

Here’s the bottom line: about 95% of HVAC systems use filters that are too restrictive. If yours is one of them, upgrading to a NovusAer whole-home air filtration system will likely improve your air conditioner’s capacity. The NovusAer has 18 times more surface area than a typical 1-inch Filtrete 2500 filter, allowing it to capture particles efficiently without choking airflow.

2. Efficiency: How Much Cooling You Get for Each Watt of Power

Now let’s talk about energy efficiency—specifically your system’s Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER). This rating compares the cooling your system delivers to the electricity it uses. The higher the EER, the more efficient your air conditioner is.

Here’s how airflow affects efficiency:

• Your outside air conditioner’s compressor and fan motors use nearly the same amount of electricity whether it’s providing a lot of cooling or a little.

• If airflow inside is restricted, your system delivers less cooling even though it’s using the same amount of power.

• That means your EER drops—you’re paying for power you’re not getting full value from.

A study by engineer John Proctor, P.E., published in the ASHRAE Journal (October 2012), found that systems with less restrictive air filters and better airflow showed higher EER ratings. In other words, the less resistance to airflow, the better your energy efficiency.

Below is a chart from the study showing that as airflow resistance (measured in external static pressure) decreases, the EER increases.

As airflow resistance decreases, the EER increases.

So when you replace a restrictive filter setup with a high-flow, high-efficiency NovusAer system, you’re not just improving air quality—you’re helping your air conditioner run more energy efficiently, too.

3. Comfort: How Your Home Feels

Finally, there’s comfort, which depends heavily on airflow. Even without air conditioning, a breeze across your skin makes you feel cooler. That’s why airflow is king when it comes to home comfort.

The NovusAer system allows your HVAC system to move the maximum amount of air possible, so your home feels more evenly cooled and comfortable—even on hot days.

In Summary

If your current air filter setup is restricting airflow (and odds are, it is), then yes—the NovusAer will improve your air conditioner’s performance. You’ll likely notice:

• Better cooling capacity

• Improved energy efficiency

• More consistent comfort throughout your home

The NovusAer doesn’t just clean your air—it helps your HVAC system breathe better, too.