You should replace your air conditioner filters regularly, approximately every 30 days. Newer systems typically use pleated filters, also rectangular filters with a depth of approximately one inch. If you don't have allergies, you should replace them approximately every 90 days, but air conditioning professionals usually recommend them every 45 days for maximum efficiency. Generally, most air filter manufacturers and HVAC companies recommend changing the air filter every 90 days or 3 months. This may change depending on the location of your home (e.g.
dusty and dry climates), if you have pets, and the age of your system and equipment. If you have pets at home, you should consider changing the filter every 60 days or 2 months, and in the case of households with several pets or people with allergies or respiratory conditions, we recommend that you change the filter every 20 to 45 days. Usually, vacation homes or empty houses that aren't used much can wait to change filters every 9 to 12 months. The general consensus is that the more you use your home, the more often you'll need to change your air filter. How often you should change your air filters depends on how often you use your home.
For an underused vacation home, you can get away with changing the filters once a year. However, in the case of a typical suburban home, you probably want to change the filters at least every 90 days. However, that time frame changes depending on additional circumstances. Air filters should be changed every 90 days on average. An HVAC filter will only last one to three months on average, so it's important to keep track of the date you installed them. If you wait too long to change the filter, indoor air quality will be affected.
Changing the air filter will help keep the air conditioner parts clean and prevent them from wearing out. In addition, if the air filter is not replaced accordingly, it can increase a homeowner's energy bill, as clogged filters make the system work harder by circulating air. During allergy season, air filters can work overtime to remove allergens, dust, and other debris that circulate through the heating and cooling system. The air conditioner air filter is responsible for removing most of these particles from the air, which can affect indoor air quality and the efficiency of the entire system. Air filters trap pet hair, dust, and other irritating particles so that the air conditioning system returns fresh, clean air to your home. By removing the air filter from the air controller and holding it close to a light source, you'll be able to see if it's dirty or clogged; if you can't see the light through the filter, it's definitely time to change it.
If you have questions about replacing your air filter or if you need any air conditioning or heating service, Energy Air can help. However, for every pet you have in your home, expect to get 30 less days of operation from your air filter. The fewer occupants there are in a home, the less pollutants and debris will build up in your air filters. To get the best performance and optimal efficiency from your air conditioning system, replace filters every 30 to 45 days. Vacant vacation homes may change their air filter every 6 to 12 months. A good rule of thumb is that if you need to vacuum dirt more often from the floor, this dirt will also end up in your air filters.
On the other hand, if you use your air conditioning system almost constantly, you'll have to change the filter every few weeks (especially if you use fiberglass filters). While these factors affect how often you should replace your air filter, it's important to visually inspect it every month to check for excess particulate buildup. Using an air filter with a MERV rating higher than that recommended by the boiler or air conditioner manufacturer may affect its performance.
