How Often Should You Change Your Air Filter?

In general, most air filter manufacturers and HVAC companies recommend changing your home's air filter every 90 days or 3 months. This may vary depending on factors such as location of your home, presence of pets and age of system.

How Often Should You Change Your Air Filter?

In general, most air filter manufacturers and HVAC companies recommend changing your air filter every 90 days or 3 months. This may vary depending on the location of your home, if you have pets, and the age of your system and equipment. If you have pets in your home, it is advisable to change the filter every 60 days or 2 months. For households with multiple pets or people with allergies or respiratory conditions, it is recommended to change the filter every 20 to 45 days.

Vacation homes or vacant homes that don't have much use can expect to change filters every 9-12 months. The more you use your home, the more often you need to change the air filter. The type of air filter you use in your home determines how often you need to change it. For 1-inch to 3-inch basic air cleaners, it's allergy-free and should be changed every one or two months.

If you have a mild to moderate allergy, it's best to change the filter every three weeks. It is generally recommended to change your home's air filter every 30 days when using less expensive fiberglass filters. When you remove the air filter from the air handling unit, if you hold it close to a light source, you can see if the filter is dirty or clogged; if you can't see the light through the filter, it's time to replace it. As a general rule, pleated air filters and heating filters should be replaced every 90 days.

The only type of filters that trap allergens and spores are HEPA, or high-energy particulate air filters. However, the smaller the appliance used for cooling, the small space usually comes with smaller filters, so you may need to change the filter as often as a filter in a larger home. When the engine air filter is dirty, air cannot pass through the filter to the engine, affecting the car's entire emission control system. If you haven't changed your home's air filters lately, the next step should be to determine which filters you need and replace them as soon as possible.

Depending on the type of air filter you use, you will need to follow different programs to ensure that the filter is always working for optimal performance. If you have poor outdoor air quality or pets indoors, you'll need to replace your air filter more often. Air filters typically have a MERV (Minimum Efficiency Report Value) that determines the type and size of contaminants against which the filter will act. You can search for air conditioning repair services near me and book an appointment with a professional to have your air filters changed.

When air filters are not constantly changed, they become clogged by the accumulation of particles and contaminants that adhere to the filter.