How Often Should I Replace Air Filter

Without a make clean air filter, your HVAC unit works harder and is decumbent to more breakdowns. Compared to other DIY home improvement projects, irresolute air filters is a quick and painless procedure that can be washed in less than an 60 minutes. However, many homeowners are unaware of how often air filters need to be replaced, leaving their system vulnerable to damage. Go on reading to learn when and how to change your air filter.

Why Changing Your Filter Is Important

Air filters trap pet hair, grit, and other irritating particles and then that your ac system delivers fresh, clean air back into your habitation. Eventually, the filter traps so much dust and droppings that air can't properly filter or travel to the HVAC unit of measurement, leading to:

High energy bills—When an HVAC filter is chock-full, your system has to work harder to pull air through to cool or estrus the room. This causes it to run for longer periods of time, increasing the energy your dwelling house uses.
Health concerns—If a filter isn't working properly, dust and allergens tin broadcast throughout your dwelling and cause allergies and respiratory illnesses.
Organisation failure—An HVAC system has to piece of work hard to pull air through a clogged filter. This continuous strain on the unit can cause it to break, causing you to pay for expensive repairs or replacements.

How to Change Your Air Filter

You should ideally change your air filter every three months, however, in that location are certain factors to consider when determining when to modify out an old filter.

Type of air filter—Some air filters are more effective than others. Lower quality fiberglass filters are more than affordable, but they don't terminal long and need to be inverse every month. Pleated air filters are high-quality filters that are very effective in trapping particles and last up to 90 days.
Pets—If you ain pets, alter your filters every 2 months to proceed your air clean.
Allergies—If you endure from allergies, even the smallest amount of grit or droppings in the air can trigger a reaction. To ensure your system is pumping only make clean air, change your filters almost every 50 days.
Children—If you have young children in the dwelling house, keep the indoor air quality high by replacing your air filters every 2 months.
Home use—Homes that apply their HVAC system daily demand more frequent air filter replacements than a vacation abode that doesn't filter air regularly. If your domicile's heating and cooling organization just run a few times a year, supervene upon the air filters every vi to 12 months.

While these factors impact the frequency of air filter replacement, you should visually inspect your filter every month to check for excess particle buildup. If the dirty air filter is completely layered with dust and droppings, it'south a good idea to change the filter even if it hasn't reached the end of its recommended lifespan.

How to Modify Your Filter

Hither's how to modify your air filter when it'due south fourth dimension for a replacement.

Purchase the right size filter—To detect the size of your filter, check the erstwhile filter, which should have the size printed on i of its sides. If you can't locate the size of the old filter, use a measuring tape to check its length, width, and depth.
Turn off your unit of measurement—Flip the switch on your thermostat to turn off the unit of measurement, or plow your arrangement completely off at the circuit breaker.
Locate the filter—Your air filter is located in one of 2 places: a return duct or the air handler located in an cranium, basement, or utility closet.
Remove the grille or embrace to the air filter—If your air filter is located in the system'due south air handler, open the access panel. This may crave a screwdriver to remove the pocket-size screws securing it. If your filter is in the return duct, flip the latches that concur the grille and remove it.
Remove the erstwhile filter and insert the new ane—Accept the one-time filter from its place, carefully inspecting how information technology was situated within the encompass or grille. Accept the new filter and place it inside, making sure the airflow arrows are pointed into the unit of measurement.
Replace the cover and plow your system on—After replacing the filter, turn your system back on to ensure the filter is situated correctly and the air conditioner is running smoothly.