How Often Do Air Filters Need To Be Replaced

Without a clean air filter, your HVAC unit works harder and is prone to more breakdowns. Compared to other DIY habitation improvement projects, changing air filters is a quick and painless process that can exist washed in less than an 60 minutes. However, many homeowners are unaware of how frequently air filters demand to be replaced, leaving their system vulnerable to damage. Keep reading to acquire when and how to change your air filter.

Why Changing Your Filter Is Important

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

High energy bills—When an HVAC filter is clogged, your organization has to work harder to pull air through to cool or heat the room. This causes information technology to run for longer periods of time, increasing the energy your dwelling house uses.
Health concerns—If a filter isn't working properly, grit and allergens tin broadcast throughout your habitation and cause allergies and respiratory illnesses.
System failure—An HVAC arrangement has to 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 3 months, however, there are certain factors to consider when determining when to change out an onetime filter.

Type of air filter—Some air filters are more than effective than others. Lower quality fiberglass filters are more affordable, but they don't last long and demand to be changed every calendar month. Pleated air filters are high-quality filters that are very effective in trapping particles and last up to 90 days.
Pets—If you own pets, change your filters every two months to continue your air clean.
Allergies—If you endure from allergies, fifty-fifty the smallest amount of grit or droppings in the air can trigger a reaction. To ensure your organisation is pumping simply clean air, change your filters about every 50 days.
Children—If you take immature children in the home, keep the indoor air quality high by replacing your air filters every ii months.
Home employ—Homes that use their HVAC system daily demand more frequent air filter replacements than a vacation home that doesn't filter air regularly. If your home's heating and cooling system only run a few times a yr, replace the air filters every six to 12 months.

While these factors affect the frequency of air filter replacement, you should visually audit your filter every calendar month to cheque for excess particle buildup. If the dingy air filter is completely layered with dust and debris, it'southward a good idea to change the filter even if it hasn't reached the end of its recommended lifespan.

How to Change Your Filter

Here's how to change your air filter when it'south fourth dimension for a replacement.

Purchase the correct size filter—To detect the size of your filter, check the quondam filter, which should take the size printed on one of its sides. If you tin'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, or plough your organisation completely off at the excursion breaker.
Locate the filter—Your air filter is located in i of two places: a return duct or the air handler located in an attic, basement, or utility closet.
Remove the grille or cover to the air filter—If your air filter is located in the organisation'southward air handler, open up the admission console. This may require a screwdriver to remove the small 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 one—Take the one-time filter from its place, carefully inspecting how it was situated inside the cover or grille. Accept the new filter and identify information technology inside, making sure the airflow arrows are pointed into the unit of measurement.
Supersede the cover and turn your organisation on—After replacing the filter, turn your system back on to ensure the filter is situated correctly and the air conditioner is running smoothly.