When it comes to keeping your home's air clean and healthy, one of the most important things you can do is change your central air filter regularly. But how often should you be doing this? In general, most air filter manufacturers and HVAC companies recommend changing the air filter every 90 days or 3 months. However, this may vary depending on the location of your home, if you have pets, and the age of your system and equipment. The best way to determine when to replace an old 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 should also re-evaluate if you're having a new pet or if the outside air quality has been poor. The air filter manufacturer will usually explain how often the air filter should be replaced in their installation instructions. 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.
Although it's a good rule of thumb, you'll need to check your air filter more often to see if it needs to be replaced. The fewer occupants there are in a home, the less pollutants and debris will build up in your air filters. For example, a family of four will need to change their air filters more often than a single person's home. A good rule of thumb is that if you need to vacuum dirt more often from the floor, you can safely say that this dirt will also end up in the air filters.
Visit the website of your air conditioner manufacturer to find out where you can buy the air filters used by your air conditioning system, or ask your technical expert what size you need. While these factors affect the frequency of air filter replacement, you should visually inspect the filter every month to check for excess particulate buildup. Consider replacing air filters after a thorough home renovation to keep the air clean and reduce the chances of costly maintenance repairs later on. If there are no smokers or pets in your house, and your filter is the best-selling 1-filter filter with a MERV rating of 4, you should be able to wait up to 90 days before changing it.
During these months, pollutants in your home may increase, but the air filter doesn't catch them. If someone in your family has mild to moderate allergies, you can put a better air filter on it or change it even more often. It's also important to note that if you live in an area with high levels of dust or other pollutants in the air, you may need to change your filter more frequently than recommended. Overall, it's important to keep an eye on your central air filter and replace it as needed. This will help ensure that your home's air remains clean and healthy for everyone living there. If you're unsure about when or how often to change your central air filter, consult with an HVAC professional for advice.
