How Often Should The Air Filter Be Changed

Without a make clean air filter, your HVAC unit of measurement works harder and is prone to more breakdowns. Compared to other DIY home improvement projects, changing air filters is a quick and painless process that tin be done in less than an hour. However, many homeowners are unaware of how often air filters need to be replaced, leaving their system vulnerable to damage. Keep reading to learn when and how to change your air filter.

Why Changing Your Filter Is Of import

Air filters trap pet pilus, dust, and other irritating particles so that your air conditioning system delivers fresh, make clean air dorsum into your home. Somewhen, the filter traps so much grit and debris that air tin't properly filter or travel to the HVAC unit, leading to:

High energy bills—When an HVAC filter is clogged, your arrangement has to piece of work harder to pull air through to absurd or heat the room. This causes information technology to run for longer periods of time, increasing the free energy your home uses.
Health concerns—If a filter isn't working properly, dust and allergens tin circulate throughout your dwelling and cause allergies and respiratory illnesses.
System failure—An HVAC organisation has to work hard to pull air through a clogged filter. This continuous strain on the unit of measurement tin 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, there are certain factors to consider when determining when to change out an old filter.

Type of air filter—Some air filters are more effective than others. Lower quality fiberglass filters are more affordable, but they don't last long and need to be inverse every month. Pleated air filters are loftier-quality filters that are very effective in trapping particles and last up to 90 days.
Pets—If you ain pets, change your filters every two months to keep your air make clean.
Allergies—If yous suffer from allergies, fifty-fifty the smallest amount of grit or debris in the air can trigger a reaction. To ensure your arrangement is pumping just make clean air, modify your filters nearly every 50 days.
Children—If you have young children in the abode, keep the indoor air quality high by replacing your air filters every two months.
Home use—Homes that employ their HVAC organization daily demand more frequent air filter replacements than a vacation home that doesn't filter air regularly. If your habitation's heating and cooling organization but run a few times a year, supplant the air filters every half dozen to 12 months.

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

How to Alter Your Filter

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

Purchase the right size filter—To find the size of your filter, check the old filter, which should take the size printed on 1 of its sides. If y'all tin can't locate the size of the old filter, use a measuring tape to check its length, width, and depth.
Plough off your unit of measurement—Flip the switch on your thermostat to turn off the unit, or turn your organization completely off at the excursion breaker.
Locate the filter—Your air filter is located in one of two places: a render duct or the air handler located in an attic, basement, or utility closet.
Remove the grille or comprehend to the air filter—If your air filter is located in the system'due south air handler, open up the admission panel. This may require a screwdriver to remove the small-scale screws securing it. If your filter is in the return duct, flip the latches that hold the grille and remove it.
Remove the sometime filter and insert the new ane—Accept the old filter from its place, carefully inspecting how it was situated inside the cover or grille. Take the new filter and place information technology inside, making sure the airflow arrows are pointed into the unit.
Supplant the cover and turn your system on—Subsequently replacing the filter, turn your system back on to ensure the filter is situated correctly and the air conditioner is running smoothly.