How Often Should Your Home Filter Be Replaced?
There is no one-size-fits-all solution to the question of how much you can change your furnace filter (aka air filter). Here are some guidelines to help you find out what kind of frequency to expect. Every home’s HVAC machine works for a different period of time, and every home’s air contains a different amount of dirt, dust, pet dander, and allergens. These are the factors that have the greatest effect on how long a filter lasts.
Signs that your air filter needs to be replaced include:
- The filter is clearly filthy or dirty. If you can’t see the filter’s content, it’s probably time to replace it.
- The heating/cooling system is operating at a higher rate than normal.
- Your house is dustier than normal.
- You detect unusual odors or a burning odor near your HVAC machine.
By changing your furnace filter on a regular basis, you will ensure that the air in your home is free of dust and other pollutants. If you don’t change your filter, it will become clogged and incapable of capturing new particles. A dirty filter would allow more dirt and debris to circulate into your house, causing your family to inhale more dust and allergens on a daily basis. Furthermore, a clogged furnace filter forces your furnace/hvac system’s motor to work harder, causing it to become less powerful.
Open Windows and Doors Regularly
When windows and doors are left open, dust and pollutants from the outside air reach your house, adding to the filth on your air filters. One and two-inch filters should be replaced monthly no matter the outcome, four-inch filters every two months, and five-inch filters every three months if the windows and doors are often left open.
Pets
If you have furry pets in your house, your furnace filter’s life will be cut short. You should change your filter every month for a one or two-inch filter, three months for a four-inch filter as well a five-inch filter if you have one animal at home.
The longer your filter lasts, the less animals you have in your house. If you have many animals, you can adjust a one or two-inch filter once every few weeks, a four-inch filter every month and a half, and a five-inch filter every three months, no questions asked.
Allergies
If someone in your home suffers from allergies, changing the air filter more often will help. A higher-quality filter would be more expensive, but it will reduce allergens more effectively. It’s a good indication of how much your furnace filters need to be replaced if you’re aware of the factors that affect indoor air quality. Changing your furnace’s filters on a regular basis will help ensure that your furnace works smoothly and effectively, and that the air you and your family breathe is as clean as possible.
Smokers
If you have smokers in your house, your filter will be affected as well. The longer your filter life is, the less or no smokers you have. You can get away with replacing a one or two-inch filter every month, a four-inch filter every three months, and a five-inch filter every four months if you only have one smoker in your home/building.
Heater/Ac Fan
The frequency at which your heater/ac fan runs will determine how often you can replace your filter. If your heater/ac fan is on all the time, you’ll need to change your filter every month; if it’s on sometimes, it’ll be every two months; if it’s never on, it’ll be every three months.
Dust
Another element that can shorten the life of your furnace filter is excessive dust. If your home is dusty, you can replace one and two-inch filters once a month, four-inch filters every two months, and five-inch filters every three months.
