It's important to keep your home's air clean and healthy, and one of the best ways to do this is to regularly check and replace your air filter. In general, most air filters should be changed every 90 days or 3 months. However, this can vary depending on the location of your home, if you have pets, and the age of your system and equipment. Fibreglass air filters are more affordable but less efficient at capturing dust and particles from the air, so they usually need to be changed every 30 days or less.
It's important to check your air filter once a month to determine if it needs to be changed. If you or a family member has allergies or asthma, it's recommended to change the filter once a month, following the advice of medical associations such as the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Air filters and boiler filters should be checked at least once a month. If they are dirty, they should be replaced with a clean and fresh air filter.
To determine if the filter is dirty or clogged, remove it from the air conditioner and hold it up to a light source. If you can't see the light through the filter, it's time to change it. Generally, fiberglass air filters should be replaced approximately every 30 days or as recommended by the manufacturer. Pleated air filters should be replaced approximately every three to six months. The frequency of air filter replacement depends on several factors such as the home's location, occupants, and outdoor air quality.
If there are pets in the home or if the outdoor air is of poor quality, you'll need to replace the air filter more often. Not changing the filter can even shorten the life of your boiler or air conditioner, so it's important to include air filter replacement on your list of recurring home maintenance tasks. If you're unsure of how often you should change your air filter, consult a professional for specific instructions for your brand and system. Homeowners should also consider replacing their air filters after major renovations to keep their air clean and reduce costly maintenance repairs in the future. A dirty air filter won't do its job of capturing airborne particles like pollen or dust mite allergens, which means more particles will recirculate for you to inhale. If you're installing an air filter in a vacation home or other property that isn't used often, you can usually wait a little longer to replace it.
When replacing an air filter, make sure to get one that fits the indicated dimensions on the side of your existing filter. Multi-person homes will need to replace their air filters more often than single-occupant homes, and if you have young children at home it's best to use high-quality pleated air filters and change them every two months. If you have pets in your home, consider replacing a fiberglass air filter about once every 20 days and replacing a pleated air filter about once every 60 days. If any family member has severe allergies, it is recommended to change the air filters very frequently - in some cases every two weeks. Air filters help clean the air in a heating and cooling system by removing unwanted dirt and debris. It's important to check your air filter regularly and replace it when necessary in order to keep your home's air clean and healthy.
