The only way to determine how often you need to change your air filter is to inspect it visually every month. After a few months, you'll get an idea of how quickly it gets dirty. You may need to re-evaluate if you have a new pet or if the outdoor air quality has been poor. Generally, most air filter manufacturers and HVAC companies recommend changing the 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 the house, 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. Vacation homes or vacant homes that don't have much use can usually wait to change filters every 9-12 months.
The more you use your home, the more often you need to change the air filter. The ideal is to change your air filter every three months, however, there are certain factors to consider when determining when to replace an old filter.
Air filters
should be changed every 90 days on average. An HVAC filter will only last one to three months on average.Therefore, it is important to keep track of the date you installed them. If you wait too long to change the filter, indoor air quality will suffer. 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, its efficiency decreases.
Find out below if you should replace the filter more often. When the air filter is clean, you don't have to inhale particles and other different contaminants. Households with a pet should generally replace filters after two months; those with more than one pet may need to replace the filter once a month. Typical recommendations range from every 30 days for cheaper fiberglass filters (which often don't do a good job of filtering), to 6 months for high-end pleated filters.
As a general rule, a lower occupancy of the home extends the life of the air filter, while a higher occupancy of the home reduces it. However, it will put unwanted pressure on your HVAC system, resulting in poor air quality and air circulation. If you have small children at home, it's a good idea to use high-quality pleated air filters and change them every two months. As you can see, determining exactly how many times a year air filters need to be replaced can be overwhelming. Replacing filters regularly can keep homeowners and their families healthy through efficient air circulation.
It will be easier for you to remember to do this important task if you learn how often to change your air filter in the first place. If you live in a big city, pollutants such as smoke, dust and other debris will seep inside and clog the air filter at a much faster rate. This class of air filter is excellent for homes with a limited budget where there are no occupants with respiratory problems. If you have any questions, call a professional or the manufacturer of the air cleaner to determine its service life. Studies have shown that the air in your home can be two to five times more polluted than outdoor air. A typical manufacturer recommends replacing air filters every 30 to 90 days; however, this depends on the life of the filter and other environmental factors inside the home. Yes, changing the filter has several impacts on your HVAC system's ability to cool your home and overall air quality.
During allergy season, air filters can work overtime to remove allergens, dust, and other debris circulating through the heating and cooling system.
