The only way to be sure how often your air filter should be changed is to visually inspect it every month. After a few months, you'll get an idea of how quickly it gets dirty and need to re-evaluate if you have a new pet or if the outdoor air quality has been poor. However, experts recommend changing it once every 30 days if the air filter is made of fiberglass filters, which are of relatively poor quality. On the other hand, expensive pleated filters can work well if replaced once every three to six months.
The frequency of air filter replacement depends on several important factors, such as your home, occupants, and location. Simply put, if the air quality outside and inside your home is poor, you'll need to replace the air filter more often. What might be an appropriate air filter replacement frequency for one home may not be the right choice for every home. In addition to filtering particulates filtered by MERV 8 and 11, MERV 13 can filter kitchen smoke, smog, and virus carriers. When it comes to air filter maintenance, it's important to understand that there is no one-size-fits-all solution.
Ideally, you should change your air filter every three months; however, there are certain factors to consider when determining when to change an old filter. In general, filters with higher MERV indices are more capable of trapping small particles than filters with lower MERV indices. Outdoor air quality can have a big impact on how often the air filter gets dirty and needs to be changed. Air conditioning simply refers to air conditioning, while HVAC refers to heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. Your specific situation is unique, but most air filtration experts agree that furnace filters have an overall lifespan.
Wait up to three months to change a fiberglass air filter and nine to 12 months before changing a pleated air filter. Your home's air filters should be changed regularly to keep the system running smoothly and to maintain optimal air quality. Consider replacing a fiberglass air filter about once every 20 days and replacing a pleated air filter about once every 60 days if you have one or more pets. People with allergies or asthma may experience more relief if they change their HVAC air filters more often. If you follow the right filter replacement programs, you'll enjoy breathing clean, fresh air and stay healthy.
Be careful not to confuse Honeywell oven filters with HEPA air filters for purifiers, which last much longer.
