How Often To Change Your Home Air Filter

Changing your air filter is a crucial element that contributes towards keeping your HVAC functional. Knowing when to replace it can be a little bit tricky due to various reasons.

Every home is slightly different from the other, and that can affect when to change the filters. The type of air filter could also be another determining factor on how often to replace. Below are some factors that determine how often you can change your air filters.

Frequent Allergy Experiences

Much as the outdoor air can be harmful, the indoor air can be worse. An allergic person can suffer from the dust and dander in the air expelled from the AC unit. People sensitive to airborne particulates can have terrible and consistent coughs, runny noses, and other allergy-related symptoms.

People with severe allergic reactions need to change filters more often or get special filters, while others with little to no reactions can replace every less often.

Pets in the Home

Pets such as dogs and cats can make matters worse about how often to replace your home air filter. You’ll have to deal with more dust, pet dander, and fur, which moves in the air within your home and even gets worse when seasons change. The elements block the flow of air in the filter. If you have pets, consider replacing your filter at least every sixty days. However, if you have multiple pets, you may want to replace it more often.

Younger Children at Home

Children are often sensitive to various elements such as dust and other air pollutants, which can easily affect life quality. Meaning, you need to keep the indoor air fresh and of good quality. In this case, consider replacing your air filter every 2 to 3 months at a minimum.

Things that Affect the Lifespan of Your Air Filter

Several factors affect the lifespan of your air filter. Knowing the key areas will help you keep a close eye to your air filters and ensure that the air handler unit remains functional.

Constant Operation of the System

Some units seemingly run around the clock, especially in the scorching heat of Phoenix’s summers. However, during temperate climatic times, you may need to use the system for only a few hours a day, which means that the filter could potentially last the whole season.

The Size of Your Home

The size of your home dictates how often to change the air filter. The home size determines the unit’s energy, which plays a crucial role in how often you should replace the air filters. A smaller home requires less air from the system, which could mean fewer filter replacements.

On the flip side, a larger unit requires more energy to dispense clean air within the house, which means your filter will last for a shorter period. So, it would be best if you changed the filters often.

Daily Habits

Those who smoke regularly indoors can cause the cigarette smell and its toxic byproducts to penetrate the air filter. This can be harmful to those who live in the home and decreases the lifespan of the filter.

How to Know When to Change Your Air Filter

The Air Conditioner Is Too Hot

When your unit becomes too hot, it’s a clear sign that you need to change the filters. A clogged filter makes the system use a lot of energy to keep the house cool, leading to frequent air conditioner repairs. Therefore, you need to change the air filter frequently to avoid further damages to the unit.

Air Not Cold Enough

Reduced air circulation in the home attributes to various problems. The first place to check when you notice that your unit isn’t cooling is the air filter. When the filter gets dirty, it blocks fresh air, causing the home to become hot. It’s a sign that you need to change the air filter.

Increased Electricity Bills

An increase in electricity bills often means there is something wrong with your unit. It could be a fault within the system. Although the bills could go high in hot seasons due to the unit’s high usage, it gets even worse when you have a dirty air filter. Once you notice higher bills, it could be time to change your air filters.

The Bottom Line

Every part of your HVAC unit needs to work correctly so that the unit remains functional. Meaning, you need to ensure that you work with a professional who will help you check every part of the system to ensure that it’s well functional. It’s how well you maintain your HVAC that determines how long you enjoy it. If you notice any slight changes in the system, it could be a sign to call for an expert to fix the issues.