How Often Should You Change Your HVAC Filters?

In general, most air filters should be changed every 90 days or 3 months. This may vary depending on location of your home, if you have pets and age of your system and equipment.

How Often Should You Change Your HVAC Filters?

In general, most air filters should be changed 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. The ideal is to change your air filter every three months, however, there are certain factors to consider when determining when to change an old filter. A general rule of thumb for pleated air filters (such as those manufactured by FilterBuy) is to replace the filter every 90 days.

As the filter traps more dirt, dust and allergens from the air, the efficiency of the filter decreases. Depending on your lifestyle and the type of oven filter you choose, you may want to change it more often. A number of factors need to be considered when deciding how often to change an oven filter, and many filter manufacturers recommend how often your product should be replaced. The basic consensus among HVAC professionals is that you should replace your oven filter every 90 days or every three months.

However, that depends on the thickness of the filter. Thicker filters have more room to collect dirt and dust, so there's no need to change them as often. Thomas & Galbraith Heating, Cooling and Plumbing of Ohio recommends replacing filters that are less than 2 inches thick every 30 to 90 days. Three- or 4-inch filters can last 6 to 9 months, and filters up to 6 inches thick can be replaced once a year. As a general rule, it is recommended to change the HVAC equipment (we talk about filter traps, air filters, oven filters, etc.) every three months. If you are a pet owner, you will want to change the air filter every 2 months, especially when winter turns into spring and summer into autumn.

It's a general recommendation to change your home's air filter every 30 days when using less expensive fiberglass filters. Yes, changing the filter has several impacts on your HVAC system's ability to cool your home and overall air quality. Cats and dogs lose and have odors that can accumulate in their space, so it is necessary to change the filter every 2 months. During a remodeling project, change the oven filter every 30 days, or even more often, to prevent construction-related dust from circulating around the home. If there is no smoker or pets in your home, and your filter is the 1 filter that is commonly sold with a MERV rating of 4, you should be able to wait up to 90 days before changing it. Compared to other DIY home improvement projects, changing air filters is a quick and painless process that can be done in less than an hour.

Furnaces and air conditioners in smaller homes need to pump less air for the same amount of temperature change, which can mean less frequent filter changes. The HVAC air filter will basically trap airborne contaminants to prevent them from being recirculated throughout the house. However, if your HVAC system works almost constantly, change the filter every few weeks (especially if you use a cheaper fiberglass filter). A clean filter is necessary to prevent dust from passing through the HVAC system, where it can accumulate in the internal coils of the air conditioner and reduce the efficiency of the unit. If you have an asthmatic or allergic person at home, change the filter every 6 weeks to ensure that the indoor air quality is the best.