You should replace your air conditioner filter approximately every 90 days, if you don't have allergies, but AC professionals generally recommend every 45 days for maximum efficiency. Be sure to replace them with the correct size and type of air filter. If your air conditioner is working properly, you can remove the filter and buy one that is identical to it. In general, most air filter manufacturers and HVAC companies recommend changing the air filter every 90 days or 3 months.
That may change depending on the location of your home (e.g. EJ. dry and dusty climates), if you have pets and the age of your system and equipment. If you have pets in the house, you should consider changing the filter every 60 days or 2 months, and 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 usually wait to change filters every 9-12 months. The general consensus is that the more you use your home, the more you need to change the air filter. 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 will need to re-evaluate 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 listed below. 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.
Find out below if you should replace the filter more often. If the dirty air filter is completely covered with dust and dirt, it is a good idea to change the filter even if it has not reached the end of its recommended life. Consider the factors discussed above to determine a replacement program and decide what type and quality of filter you should use. You may also need to replace the filter more often if someone in your household smokes, or if you have furniture or cleaning products that release volatile organic compounds. Filters with higher MERV ratings trap small particles more effectively than filters with lower MERV ratings.
In smaller homes, the HVAC system has to move less air, which can mean less frequent air filter replacements. Air filters typically have a MERV (Minimum Efficiency Report Value) that determines the type and size of contaminants against which the filter will act. The only type of filters that trap allergens and spores are HEPA, or high-energy particulate air filters. The Minimum Efficiency Report Value (MERV) rating for an air filter measures how effectively the filter prevents dust and other contaminants from passing through the filter into the air stream. After a period of smoky days with poor outdoor air quality, inspect the air filter to see if it needs to be replaced. If you have questions about replacing your AC filter, or if you need any air conditioning or heating services, Energy Air can help.
Regularly replacing your HVAC filter is one of the simplest home maintenance tasks you can perform, but many people don't keep up with this, significantly shortening the life of your HVAC system and increasing the cost of your monthly utility bills. Many air filter manufacturers offer filters that can trap microscopic particles such as pollen, mold spores, pet dander, volatile organic compounds, and smoke from your home's air.
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