How Frequently Should I Change My Air Conditioner Air Filter?
Changing furnace and return air filters is critical to the proper performance of your HVAC system, not to mention your home's air quality. Studies show that indoor air pollution is one of the top five environmental health risks? Changing the air filters is not all that hard for most your city homeowners, but there are usually two challenges to actually completing this job:
Knowing just how often to change your furnace or air conditioner filter.
Remembering to change air filters when needed.
When To Change Your Air Filters
This is not a trick; simply put – when your air filters are dirty, change them. C
hoosing how often to change your air filters can depend on several factors:
Type of filter your A/C system requires
The overall air quality of your your city area home
Pets – Birds, cats, dogs, hamsters (do you have one?), etc.
Number of occupants in the house
General air pollution in the your city area or construction taking place nearby
For your typical 1"-3" air filters, the manufacturer specs basically say to change them bi-monthly, which is in fact a great rule of thumb. However, general guidelines are not applicable to all. If you have to tolerate light to moderate allergies, you may need to upgrade the air filter or change them even more regularly than OEM specifications. On the other hand, if you're in a remote area, own a infrequently occupied home (like a vacation home) or an area where there are fewer cars around, replacing your air filters each year may be quite sufficient. Why do pets matter so much? They have a tendency to shed, which can clog your air filter fast. Clearly, the air filter is just doing its job by capturing pet hair and dander, but tremendously dirty filters can cause weak HVAC performance.
In summary:
Seldom used home or single occupant homes without pets or allergies: Change 6-12 months
Typical suburban home without pets: Change every 90 days
Add a dog or cat: Change every 60 days
Multiple pets or have allergies: Change every 30-45 days
Choosing the Correct Filter Size, and the Filter Type that Fits Your Needs
Before you select an air filter, you need to know which size to buy to fit your HVAC systems. The easiest way to determine this is to look on the old filter currently in your system. You can also find this information in your HVAC owner's manual or manufacturer’s specifications.
CONTACT MAX SUPPLY TODAY TO PLACE AN AIR FILTER ORDER 410.841.9030!
