How Often Should You Replace Your Home Air Filter?

Learn how often you should replace your home's air filter based on type and quality of filter being used, as well as other factors such as pet ownership and outdoor air quality.

How Often Should You Replace Your Home Air Filter?

The only way to be sure how often the air filter needs to 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're having a new pet or if the outside air quality has been poor. On average, air filters should be changed every 90 days.

An HVAC filter typically lasts one to three months. It's important to keep track of the date you installed them, as waiting too long to change the filter can affect indoor air quality. The general recommendation on how often air filters should be changed can range from every 30 days to every year. The lifespan and frequency of replacement of an air filter depend on two factors: the type and quality of the filter being used.

Estimating how often an air filter should be changed can be complicated due to the many variables involved. During these months, pollutants in your home may increase, but the air filter doesn't catch them. If you have allergies, you can reduce your symptoms by using a high-quality air filter and replacing it more frequently. A filter with a higher MERV rating should last longer, but it can also restrict airflow in your home.

If you allow dandruff, dust, and other contaminants to build up in the air filter and reach your home, it can harm you. When the air filter is clogged, the HVAC unit requires a lot of extra work to circulate fresh air throughout the house; the additional work requires more electricity. Studies have shown that the air in your home can be between two and five times more polluted than outdoor air. When deciding on a replacement program and what type and quality of filter to use, consider all of these factors.

To avoid introducing more dirt into your home than before, we recommend replacing your air filter every 30 days or as indicated above. The lifespan and health of your HVAC will thank you for complying with the proper guidelines on when you should change your air filter. Another 12 particles are used to determine which air filters are best for trapping different air pollutants. During periods of the year when HVAC equipment is operating frequently, more air circulates around the house compared to times when the HVAC system is used sparingly. To help protect the life of the air conditioner and improve comfort, it's important to clean or replace the HVAC filter regularly.

When the air filter is clean, you don't need to inhale particles or other different contaminants. The HVAC air filter helps keep indoor air clean by trapping mold, pollen, and other contaminants that move through the system. In smaller homes, the HVAC system needs to move less air, which may mean less frequent replacement of air filters.