How Often Should You Replace Your Home Air Filter?

One of the best things you can do to take care of your HVAC system is to change out the air filters on a regular basis. This ensures they stay efficient in filtering out contaminants and allergens, while also helping the system to run as smoothly as possible. By keeping the filters clean, you’ll also keep your energy bills low and with this air filters promo code, cost can stay low too.

But how often should you change the filters for maximum performance? Here are some general rules you should follow.

A General Rule

The general recommendation from most HVAC companies is to change the filters in the system every 30 days if you’re using fiberglass filters. The higher-end pleated filters can last longer and only need to be replaced every six months, but these guidelines don’t take into account the type of filter you’re using, the size of the filter or how often you run the machine. It’s a good idea to replace pleated filter or furnace filters every 90 days, as the longer the filter is in place, the most dirt, dust and allergens it will trap. If the filter becomes clogged, it won’t be able to filter out as much debris from the air.

Other Factors to Consider

If there are people with asthma or allergies in your home, it’s important to change the air filters more regularly than the standard guidance recommends. This is because indoor air quality is just as important as outdoor air quality in terms of reducing the risk of harmful pollutants entering the air. With this in mind, you should be changing the filters every six weeks to keep the air quality as high as possible. Similarly, if you own a pet such as a cat or dog, the pet dander and irritants in the air can build up quickly. Pet owners should change their air filters every two months, particularly in the spring and autumn when pets shed more.

How to Tell When You Need to Change HVAC Air Filters

The air that circulates throughout the HVAC system, whether it’s heated or cooled, will pass through the air filter which is why it’s vital to keep your filters clean and change them often. The result if you don’t is that your HVAC system can be prone to malfunctions and damage. Clogged air filters can also reduce the airflow in the system which means the fans have to work harder, so they wear out faster. The particles that should be trapped by the filter will also end up being circulated back into the air, which you and your family will be breathing in.

Even if your filters can potentially be left for several months without needing to be replaced, it’s a good idea to check them once a month so you can monitor if they are getting clogged too quickly and change or clean them accordingly. A good tip to be able to tell is to hold the filter up to the light and put your hand behind it – if you can’t see your hand, it’s time to change the filter.