How Often Should You Change Your AC Air Filter?

Learn how often should you change your AC Air Filter depending on location of your home, pets in your house or allergies.

How Often Should You Change Your AC Air Filter?

You should replace your air filter approximately every 90 days, if you don't have allergies, but AC professionals generally recommend every 45 days for maximum efficiency. Be sure to replace them with the correct size and type of air filter. If your air conditioner is working properly, you can remove the filter and buy one that is identical to it. In general, most air filter manufacturers and HVAC companies suggest changing your air filter every 90 days or 3 months.

This may vary depending on the location of your home (e.g. dry and dusty climates), if you have pets, and the age of your system and equipment. If you have pets in your home, you should consider changing the filter every 60 days or 2 months, and for households with multiple pets or people with allergies or respiratory conditions, we recommend changing the filter every 20 to 45 days. Usually, vacation homes or vacant homes that don't have much use can expect to change filters every 9-12 months. The general consensus is that the more you use your home, the more you need to change the air filter.

How often you need to change your air filters depends on how often you use your home. For a little-used vacation home, you could get away with changing filters once a year. However, for a typical suburban home, you'll probably want to change filters at least every 90 days. But that time frame changes depending on the additional circumstances below. 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. Find out below if you should replace the filter more often. Yes, changing the filter has several impacts on your HVAC system's ability to cool your home and overall air quality. However, these appliances are often built with smaller filters and, therefore, may need to be changed as often as a filter in a larger home. If someone in your household has a condition that affects their lungs and breathing, change filters more often.

The pleats create an additional surface that can attract and trap more dirt, making them last longer than fiberglass flat filters. In summer and winter peaks, air filters should be changed more frequently than necessary during the spring, fall, and milder months. If you answer yes to any of the following questions, you'll want to replace the filter more often than recommended: Do you have pets in your home? Is there an asthmatic or allergic person in your home? Are you using an air filter with a MERV rating higher than recommended by the manufacturer? Pets can add excessive dander to the air in your home and can bring more particles such as dust, pollen, and dirt from outside into your home. The manufacturer's recommendation is not the final answer as to how often you should change the oven filter. Regardless of the HVAC system you have, each unit needs a properly tuned quality filter to keep indoor air quality clean and your unit operating at peak efficiency. You can hear it: Your HVAC technician is giving you lessons on how to make sure you change your air filter.

You will no longer be able to filter the air properly, allowing dust and contaminants to enter the HVAC system. However, many homeowners are unaware of how often air filters need to be replaced, leaving their system vulnerable to damage. Using an air filter with a MERV rating higher than recommended by the manufacturer of your oven or air conditioner may impair its performance.