In general, most air filter manufacturers and HVAC companies recommend changing your air filter every 90 days or 3 months. 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.
How often you need to change your air filters depends on how often you use your home. For a little-used vacation home, you could get away with changing filters once a year. However, for a typical suburban home, you'll probably want to change filters at least every 90 days. But that time frame changes depending on the additional circumstances.
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. It's important to understand that this time frame can vary depending on other factors such as pet ownership, environmental conditions, and frequency of HVAC use. A typical manufacturer recommends replacing air filters every 30 to 90 days; however, this depends on the life of the filter and other environmental factors within the home.
If you live in a “smaller house”, your air conditioners and ovens need to pump less air for the same amount of temperature change, which could mean fewer filter changes. 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. If you live alone, without pets, and with good surrounding outdoor air quality, the manufacturer's filter change recommendations will likely work well for you. If you're a pet owner, you'll want to change your air filter every 2 months, especially when winter turns to spring and summer turns to fall.
If you have any questions, call a professional or the manufacturer of your air cleaner to determine its useful life. 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. Here are some general rules and recommendations that will help you determine which time period is best for your HVAC system. This is especially true if homeowners begin to notice particles floating in the air and subsequently cause allergic reactions.
How often you need to replace the filter depends on the type, presence of pets, frequency of HVAC use, environmental conditions, and occupant sensitivity. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's recommendations to extend the life of the unit. Furnaces and air conditioners in smaller homes need to pump less air for the same amount of temperature change, which can mean less frequent filter changes. The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America (AAFA) states that “indoor air quality is just as important as outdoor air quality”.
This means that it's essential for homeowners to be aware of when their air filters need replacing in order to maintain good indoor air quality and keep their HVAC system running efficiently. In conclusion, it's important for homeowners to understand when their air filters need replacing in order to maintain good indoor air quality and keep their HVAC system running efficiently. Generally speaking, most manufacturers recommend changing your air filter every 90 days or 3 months; however, this time frame can vary depending on other factors such as pet ownership, environmental conditions, and frequency of HVAC use.