In general, most air filter manufacturers and HVAC companies recommend changing your 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 ideal is to change your air filter every three months, however, there are certain factors to consider when determining when to change an old filter. The only way to ensure how often you need to change your air filter 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 reassess if you have a new pet or if the outdoor air quality has been poor. 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, the efficiency of the filter decreases.
Find out below if you should replace the filter more often. Typically, your home's air filter needs to be replaced between once every one and six months, with an average of every three months. If you can't remember the last time you replaced it, it's likely that you're behind schedule. During allergy season, air filters can work overtime to remove allergens, dust, and other debris circulating through the heating and cooling system.
Compared to other DIY home improvement projects, changing air filters is a quick and painless process that can be done in less than an hour. As a general rule, you'll want to replace your home's pleated air filters and heating filters every 90 days. Replacing filters regularly can keep homeowners and their families healthy through efficient air circulation. When you remove the air filter from the air handling unit, if you hold it close 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 definitely time to change it.
The purpose of an air cleaner is to remove dirt and dust from the air before it circulates around the house. However, if replacing the air filter simply isn't possible for an extended period, going beyond 90 days won't cause irreparable damage to your air conditioning system. All the air that circulates through your HVAC system, whether for heating or cooling your home, will eventually pass through the air filter. Some manufacturers recommend replacing air filters every 30 to 60 or 90 days, depending on the type of air filter.
The MERV rating is a scale from 1 to 20 and evaluates how well an air filter can remove particles from the air. Regardless of the HVAC system you have, each unit needs a properly tuned quality filter to keep indoor air quality clean and your unit operating at peak efficiency. In smaller homes, the HVAC system has to move less air, which can mean less frequent air filter replacements. Creating a checklist for seasonal home maintenance and changing the filter on a schedule is a great idea.
If you answer yes to this question, you'll want to change your filter every 6 weeks to maintain the best indoor air quality. For example, a family of four will need to change their air filters more often than a single person's home. In summer and winter peaks, air filters should be changed more frequently than necessary during the spring, fall, and milder months.
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