The types of air conditioning filters used in your home can have a major impact on how often you need to replace them. If you don't suffer from allergies, standard 1- to 3-inch air filters should be changed every 30 to 60 days. However, if you have mild or moderate allergies, it's best to switch out your filters more often, about every three weeks. Generally, most air filter manufacturers and HVAC companies recommend changing the air filter every 90 days or 3 months. That said, this can 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 at home, you should consider changing the filter every 60 days or 2 months, and in the case of homes with several pets or people with allergies or respiratory conditions, we recommend changing the filter every 20 to 45 days. Vacation homes or empty houses that aren't used much can wait to change the filters every 9 to 12 months. The general consensus is that the more you use your home, the more often you'll need to change the air filter. Fiberglass air filters are the more affordable of the two, but less efficient at capturing dust and particles from the air.
You usually need to change them every 30 days or less. Generally, you should replace a fiberglass air filter about once every 30 days or as recommended by the manufacturer. A pleated air filter should be replaced approximately once every three to six months. However, the frequency of air filter replacement depends on several important factors, such as your home's occupants, location, and other factors. 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.
Installing an air filter with a MERV rating higher than that recommended by the air conditioner manufacturer could impair the performance of the heating and cooling system. In general, filters with a MERV 16 rating or lower are considered suitable filters for air conditioning systems for residential, commercial, and general hospital use. These air filters act as barriers to prevent contaminants from entering the air conditioning system or circulating through the air. When you buy a new air filter, you'll find the manufacturer's recommendations for the replacement program. If you have young children at home, it's a good idea to use high-quality pleated air filters and change them every two months. Air filters are designed to allow air to flow freely through them while trapping dust, dirt, bacteria, and other contaminants.
The short answer is that, according to most air filter manufacturers and air conditioning companies, you should change it every 30 days if you use less expensive fiberglass filters. To better understand when an air filter needs to be replaced, consider the size of your home, number of occupants, number of pets, and if anyone has serious allergies or who smokes inside the house. The strongest filters are reusable, usually with metal frames, and can be cleaned according to the manufacturer's instructions. If the filter remains unchanged for too long it can even shorten the life of your boiler or air conditioner, so it is important to include air filter replacement in your list of common household maintenance tasks. Consider all of these factors when determining a replacement program and deciding what type and quality of filter to use.
During mild spring and autumn months when your air conditioning system will operate less frequently, your filter won't get dirty as quickly. You can hear it now: your HVAC technician is giving you lessons on how to change the air filter!.
