How Often Should You Change Your Central Air Conditioner Filters?

If you don't suffer from allergies, it is recommended to replace your air filters every 90 days. However, air conditioning professionals usually suggest changing them every 45 days for maximum efficiency. Make sure to use the correct size and type of air filter when replacing them. Generally, most air filter manufacturers and HVAC companies suggest changing the air filter every 90 days or 3 months.

This may vary depending on the location of your home (e.g. dusty and dry climates), if you have pets, and the age of your system and equipment. If you have pets at home, it is advisable to change the filter every 60 days or 2 months, and in 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 empty houses that are not used often can wait to change filters every 9 to 12 months. 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 will get an idea of how quickly it gets dirty. You should re-evaluate if you are going to have a new pet or if the outside 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 replace an old filter. Air filters should be changed every 90 days on average. An HVAC filter will only last one to three months on average, so it is 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. How often you should change your air filters depends on how often you use your home. For an underused vacation home, you can get away with changing the filters once a year. However, in the case of a typical suburban home, it is advisable to change the filters at least every 90 days. This time frame may vary depending on additional circumstances. A general rule for pleated air filters (such as those manufactured by FilterBuy) is to change them every 90 days.

As the filter traps more dirt, dust and allergens from the air, its efficiency decreases. If there are people with allergies or asthmatics in your home, clean air is essential for their health and comfort. Changing the air filter on your HVAC system is a simple and easy step to take in order to keep your system running smoothly and promote superior indoor air quality. If you need to operate your system without an air filter, you should not do so for more than six hours. Air filters trap pet hair, dust, and other irritating particles so that the air conditioning system returns fresh, clean air to your home. People with respiratory problems are much more sensitive to particles in the air, so they should change their air filter every six weeks for optimal indoor air quality. Air filters should be changed regularly in your home in order to keep the system running smoothly and maintain optimal air quality.

Compared to other DIY projects for the home, changing air filters is a quick and painless process that can be done in less than an hour.