A pleated air filter should be replaced every 30-60 days, while a 2-fold air filter should be changed every 3 months. A 3-fold air filter should be replaced every 120 days, and a 4-fold air filter should be changed every 6 months. 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.
If you have pets in your home, you should consider changing the filter every 60 days or 2 months. For households with multiple pets or people with allergies or respiratory conditions, we recommend changing the filter every 20 to 45 days. Vacation homes or vacant homes that don't have much use can expect to change filters every 9-12 months. The more you use your home, the more often you need to change the air 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. Therefore, 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.
Now that you know the problems that a dirty or clogged air filter can create, you'll want to change yours right away. Cats and dogs lose and have odors that can accumulate in their space, so it is necessary to change the filter every 2 months. For example, a family of four will need to change their air filters more often than a single person's home. Air filters are made of spun fiberglass, paper, or cloth enclosed in a cardboard frame and are usually located inside the ventilation grilles of a home.
People with allergies and asthma are likely to notice the difference in air first because of its high sensitivity. Any use will cause a certain amount of dirt to be trapped in the air filter; after all, that's its job. Air filters trap pet hair, dust, and other irritating particles so that the air conditioning system returns fresh, clean air to your home. It's not used to purify the air you breathe, but to protect the sensitive components of your HVAC system. Changing the filter more frequently ensures that the filter has the available surface area needed to filter contaminants that trigger symptoms among your loved ones.
Therefore, air filters ensure good airflow and prevent harmful particles from circulating inside the system. Restricted airflow caused by dirty filters prevents the air conditioner from reaching its destination. If you change the filter and the unit still doesn't cool down, call a technician to examine it. Not only can a dirty air filter make you sick, but clean air has been proven to improve physical and mental health. Therefore, you will most likely need to change it more often in the middle of winter and when summer temperatures start to rise.
