How Often Should You Change Home AC Filters?

Learn how often should you change home AC filters for maximum efficiency and how different factors such as pets and allergies can affect this frequency.

How Often Should You Change Home AC Filters?

You should replace your home air conditioning filters regularly, approximately every 30 days. Newer systems typically use pleated filters, also rectangular ones with a depth of about one inch. It is recommended to replace them every 90 days if you don't have allergies, but AC professionals generally suggest changing them every 45 days for maximum efficiency. In general, most air filter manufacturers and HVAC companies advise changing the air filter every 90 days or 3 months.

This may vary depending on the location of your home (e.g. EJ. dry and dusty climates), if you have pets and the age of your system and equipment. If you have pets in the house, you should consider replacing the filter every 60 days or 2 months, and for households with multiple pets or people with allergies or respiratory conditions, it is recommended to change the filter every 20 to 45 days.

Vacation homes or vacant homes that don't have much use can usually wait to change filters every 9-12 months. The general consensus is that the more you use your home, the more often you need to change the air 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 will need to re-evaluate if you have a new pet or if the outdoor air quality has been poor. 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. 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, its efficiency decreases. Find out below if you should replace the filter more often. Now that you have a good filter, there are a combination of factors that affect how often you replace it.

Every three weeks is a good rule of thumb if you have multiple pets, live in a very dusty or contaminated area, or have severe allergies. It's a general recommendation to change your home's air filter every 30 days when using less expensive fiberglass filters. The only downside to choosing a filter with a high MERV rating is that it can reduce the speed of airflow in your air conditioning unit.Households with a pet should generally replace filters after two months; those with more than one pet may need to replace the filter once a month. And if you purchase an older system, plan to replace the filter more often to maintain its quality.

As a general rule, it is suggested to replace your home's pleated air filters and heating filters every 90 days. If you live in a mild climate and only use your air conditioner or heater for a few hours a day, a filter could last the entire season or up to an entire year. But how often do you need to change the air filter? How often do you need to change the oven filter? Well, it depends. If there is no smoker or pets in your home, and your filter is the 1 filter that is commonly sold with a MERV rating of 4, you should be able to wait up to 90 days before changing it. If the dirty air filter is completely covered with dust and dirt, it is advisable to change the filter even if it has not reached the end of its recommended life.

While these factors affect the frequency of air filter replacement, you should visually inspect the filter every month for excessive particulate buildup. However, the smaller the appliance used for cooling, the small space usually comes with smaller filters, so you may need to change the filter as often as a filter in a larger home. The longer the filter is in place, the more dirt, dust and allergens are trapped, clogging the filter and decreasing its efficiency.

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