by Knowing when to change your HVAC filter is essential for maintaining optimal performance, and efficiency, and even ensuring your well-being. The filters don’t just remove pollen, dust, and pet hair. They also trap airborne contaminants and maintain your indoor air quality.
According to Covington HVAC services, when to change your air filter depends on various factors such as filter type, usage, and household conditions. Here is everything you should know about HVAC filters and what determines their replaceability.
General Recommendations
For the majority of households, changing the HVAC filter should happen roughly every one to three months. Everyone uses different types of filters that dictate how often they must replace them.
Still, if you aren’t using your HVAC that much, you shouldn’t replace the air filters too often. Homeowners that have indoor pets may need to replace their filters more often due to pet hair and other airborne contaminants.
To get rid of pet dander, changing the filter every 30 or 60 days should be more than enough to maintain a high indoor air quality. Even the number of occupants in your home can affect the filter replacement rate.
However, the most important aspect that will determine if you need to change your air filters often is whether or not you have someone in your household with allergies or respiratory issues.
In this situation, it is highly advisable to change the filters every month to ensure that the air quality is at its peak. The person with respiratory issues will feel a huge difference immediately, especially if you also use a filter specifically designed for their issue.
Factors to Consider
These are just general recommendations; if you want more personalized advice, speak with an HVAC contractor and consider these factors:
Filter Type
All HVAC filters have different lifespans and are designed for certain types of usage. Some of them have additional features that may further improve your indoor air quality at the cost of a reduced lifespan or they might have increased durability and efficiency.
Generally, high-efficiency filters might last longer than standard fiberglass filters. Everything depends on your usage patterns and the manufacturer’s recommendations. Some more expensive HVAC filters can last six months without the need for a replacement, while still ensuring good air quality.
Usage Patterns
With most equipment, the more you use it the more you need to take care of it. The same thing applies to HVAC systems and filters. If you use your HVAC frequently, especially during peak seasons, you will need to change your filters more often. If you do not use them regularly, then there is no need to change them frequently.
However, if your HVAC system is not used for long periods of time, dust accumulation, along with other factors, might make you need to replace them despite not using them regularly.
Environmental Conditions
Environmental conditions play a key role in what type of HVAC filters you should use and how often you should change them. For example, homeowners should replace the filters more often if they live in dusty or pollen-heavy areas.
The accumulation of particles will render your filters useless at some point so you should get new ones as soon as you can. In this case, the right time to change your HVAC filters should be just before the flowers bloom, especially if you or someone in your household has allergies or respiratory issues. You should also change them every month. When a new season comes, you can replace the filters less often.
Filter Status
Although most HVAC filters are replaced every 1 to 3 months, you should still make it a habit to inspect the filters every 30 days. If your filters look dirty or are clogged, you should change them.
If your filters get dirty and clogged earlier than expected, that should tell you something is wrong. Speak with an HVAC technician to learn if you should try a different filter or if there is something wrong with your HVAC system.
Benefits of Regular Filter Changes
Changing your HVAC filters at the right time has various benefits. Here are some of them:
Improved Air Quality
The first thing you will notice when you change your air filters regularly is your indoor air quality. All the dust, allergens, and other pollutants in the air will be removed more efficiently. You will feel better and even notice some improvements in your overall health, especially if you have respiratory issues and allergies.
Increased Efficiency
A clean filter will not only increase indoor air quality but also allow your HVAC system to operate more efficiently. This will eventually lead to reduced energy costs. When your HVAC is clogged or dirty, it will struggle to operate at peak efficiency. However, a well-maintained and clean HVAC will function efficiently.
Extended Equipment Lifespan
Regular maintenance, including filter changes, will prolong the life of your HVAC system. As mentioned earlier, filters remove dust and other debris and keep them away from critical components. Once the filter becomes clogged, it’s efficiency is reduced and the HVAC system will get overworked. This strain on the system will inevitably shorten its lifespan.
But, when you take good care of your HVAC system, you shouldn’t worry about premature failure as the components will function at their peak for a long time. This maintenance routine will save you a lot of money in the long run as it is much more expensive to replace a damaged HVAC system or replace crucial components.
Therefore, when you change your HVAC filters at the right time you will maintain your indoor air quality and system efficiency and save on energy costs. If you struggle to determine what the right time is to replace a filter for your system, contact a professional.
