Many homeowners are not sure when to change their air filter or whether or not they should change the filters at all. Knowing when to change the air filter depends on a number of factors, and is something that every homeowner must know how to do to ensure that the air around the home is safe for everyone to breathe.

Factors to consider when thinking about changing your filter include:

–the type of filter

–air quality in the house

–presence or absence of pets

–the number of people in the home at any given day

–surrounding areas

Different types of filters have different lifespans. Look at manufacturer instructions to determine recommended times when a filter needs to be changed. For example, high efficiency filters have a working life of 6 months to a year. Home filters need to be changed every 3 months. Commercial filters such as those in restaurants, stores and offices where there is a high number of foot traffic may require filter changes every 4 to 8 weeks.

The air quality around the house, which can be affected by the presence or absence of pets and how many people are in the house at any given day, will also contribute to the amount of dirt, dust and dander flying around. Living in an area with high pollution, such as near highways or construction sites, also means that more dust and pollutants can get into the house. Your filter does the main job of cleaning these up, so frequent changes may be needed.

How often should you change your air filter?

The best answer would be to change your filters when they are dirty. Knowing the factors above, you now have an idea how often you should be checking if the filters need to be changed. Even if a thin layer of dust is present, changing filters is a good idea especially if there are very small children or elderly individuals living in the house.

Air filters serve as the barrier between your home and the pollutants outside, so proper maintenance is a must. Not only are you keeping the air inside safe and clean, you are also prolonging the life of your air conditioning systems.

Follow us for more tips and ideas on proper HVAC maintenance and ensure the efficiency of your air cooling and conditioning systems today.