In general, most air filter manufacturers and HVAC companies recommend changing the air filter every 90 days or 3 months. That can change depending on the location of your home, if you have pets, and the age of your system and equipment. The only way to be sure how often your air filter should be changed is to perform a visual inspection of the filter every month. After a few months, you'll get an idea of how quickly it gets dirty.
You'll need to re-evaluate if you have a new pet or if the outdoor air quality has been poor.
The ideal is to change the air filter every three months
, however, there are certain factors to consider when determining when to change an old filter. As an expert in the field of air conditioning systems, I recommend that you check your air filter once a month to see how dirty it is. That's really the only way to know if you really need to change the filter.And if you or a family member has a history of allergies or asthma, plan to change your filter once a month, following recommendations from medical associations, including the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.
A general rule of thumb for pleated air filters
(such as those made by FilterBuy) is to change them every 90 days. As the filter traps more dirt, dust, and allergens from the air, the efficiency of the filter decreases. Next, find out if you should replace the filter more often.To ensure that only clean air comes out of the air conditioning system, replace the air filter before it clogs so you can breathe better. Regardless of the air conditioning system you have, each unit needs a quality filter that is properly adjusted to keep indoor air quality clean and the unit operating at maximum efficiency. When you remove the air filter from the air conditioner, if you bring it closer to a light source, you can see if the filter is dirty or clogged. If you can't see the light through the filter, it's time to change it.
If you have a pet, you'll want to change the air filter every 2 months, especially when winter turns to spring and summer to fall. You can also set up a reminder on your smartphone that indicates the date you last changed the air filter so that you don't forget to check it again. If you live in a temperate climate and only use the air conditioner or boiler for a few hours a day, a filter could last the entire season or up to an entire year. To keep air quality under control and your home clean, you'll want to replace the filter at least 2 to 3 months apart.
Air filters trap pet hair, dust, and other irritating particles so that the air conditioning system returns fresh, clean air to your home. All the air that circulates through the air conditioning system to heat or cool the house will end up passing through the air filter. However, if it's impossible to replace the air filter for an extended period of time, spending more than 90 days won't cause irreparable damage to your air conditioning system. When it comes to determining how often your AC air filter should be changed, there are several factors that come into play.
While these factors affect how often your air filter is changed, you should visually inspect it every month to check for excess particulate matter buildup. When you change the air filter, you allow more air to flow through the system with lower energy consumption, which results in better circulation, cleaner air, and a lower electricity bill. If you live in a “smaller” house, your air conditioners and ovens need to pump less air with the same temperature change, which could mean fewer filter changes. In smaller homes, the air conditioning system has to move less air, which may mean replacing air filters less frequently.
Environmental conditions inside and outside your home can affect air quality and how often you need to change your air filter. One of the most important things you can do on your own to take good care of your air conditioning system is to simply change the air filter regularly. This will ensure that only clean and fresh-smelling air circulates throughout your home while also keeping energy costs low by allowing more efficient operation of your AC unit.
