How Often Should You Replace Air Filters in Your Home?

Learn how often you should replace your home's air filters and what factors can affect this frequency.

How Often Should You Replace Air Filters in Your Home?

When it comes to maintaining a healthy home, one of the most important things to consider is how often you should replace your air filters. In general, 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, if you have pets, and the age of your system and equipment. 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 may need to re-evaluate if you're having a new pet or if the outside air quality has been poor. An HVAC filter will only last one to three months on average, so it's important to keep track of the date you installed them. If you wait too long to change the filter, indoor air quality will be affected. Changing the air filter will help keep the air conditioner parts clean and prevent them from wearing out. If you allow dandruff, dust, and other contaminants to build up in the air filter and reach your home, it can harm you.

Whether you're an HVAC expert or not, the only way to be 100% sure that your system is working properly is to check the filter once a month. If you live in a big city, pollutants such as smoke, dust, and other debris will seep inside and clog your air filter at a much faster rate. Whether it's oven filters, air filters, or any other part of the unit, be sure to take care of your HVAC system to extend its lifespan. According to Home Depot, fiberglass air filters are cheaper than pleated air filters, but typically only last about a month. The HVAC air filter will basically trap air contaminants to prevent them from being recirculated throughout the house. If you have young children in the house, it's a good idea to use high-quality pleated air filters and replace them every two months.

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. If you live alone, without pets and with good surrounding outdoor air quality, the manufacturer's recommendations for changing filters are likely to work well for you. Consider the factors mentioned above to determine a replacement program and decide what type and quality of filter you should use. The structure of air filters that belong to this class makes it much more difficult for the HVAC system to operate smoothly. Usually, the air filter manufacturer will explain how often the air filter should be replaced in their installation instructions. So how do you determine if your air filter has trapped more than enough dirt and requires a change? The best way is by performing a visual inspection every month.

This will give you an idea of how quickly it gets dirty and whether or not it needs replacing.