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. Type of air filter is one of the most important factors. Some air filters are more effective than others. In general, most air filter manufacturers and HVAC companies recommend changing your air filter every 90 days or 3 months.
This may change 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.
An HVAC filter will only last one to three months on average. Which means you need to keep track of the date you installed them. If you wait too long to change the filter, indoor air quality will suffer. 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. You can hear it: Your HVAC technician is giving you lessons on how to make sure you change your air filter.
Changing the air filter in your HVAC system is a simple and easy step to take to keep your system running smoothly and promoting superior indoor air quality. This class of air filter is excellent for homes with a limited budget where there are no occupants with respiratory problems. Using an air filter with a MERV rating higher than recommended by the manufacturer of your oven or air conditioner may impair its performance. Vacant vacation homes, depending on how often you use the system, may change the air filter every 6 to 12 months. In summer and winter peaks, air filters should be changed more frequently than necessary during the spring, fall, and milder months. These are the lowest scare scores and trap the least amount of pollutants in your home's air.
Air filters are usually made of spun fiberglass (the same as attic insulation) or & pleated paper framed with cardboard for added stability and rigidity. It's important to note that there are high-efficiency filters that are designed to filter out small bacterial, mold, and fungal particles, but your standard MERV 8-11 filters will simply block out larger particles of dust, dirt & hair. While a filter with a higher MERV rating should last longer, it can also restrict airflow in your home. If the filter doesn't work, it can have adverse health effects and cause respiratory problems, especially for those with pre-existing illnesses. But what happens if you let that time go by a little? Before we talk about WHEN you should change your air filter, let's start with the WHY.
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