Changing your home's air filter regularly is essential for keeping your indoor air clean and healthy, as well as reducing energy costs. But when is the right time to change it? Taking a look at the white sheet to see if it has turned gray or black is one way to tell if the filter needs to be changed. If there is a sudden increase in your electricity or electricity bill over several months, this could also be a sign that the air filter needs to be replaced. Comparing the surfaces immediately next to the ventilation grille with other surfaces can also help you determine if the air filters are old and dirty.
If that part of the carpet seems to be visibly dusty or covered with an ash-like substance, it's time to change the air filter. In general, most air filter manufacturers and HVAC companies recommend changing the air filter every 90 days or 3 months. This can change depending on the location of your home (e.g. dusty and dry climates), if you have pets, and how old the system and equipment are.
If you have pets at home, you should consider changing the filter every 60 days or every 2 months, and for homes with multiple pets or people with allergies or respiratory conditions, we recommend that you change the filter every 20 to 45 days. Vacation homes or vacant homes that don't get much use usually wait to change the filters every 9 to 12 months. The general consensus is that the more you use your home, the more you'll need to change your air filter. It's important to note that there are high-efficiency filters that are designed to filter out small particles of bacteria, mold and mildew, but standard MERV 8-11 filters only block larger particles of dust, dirt and hair.
Air filters usually have a MERV (minimum efficiency value) that determines the type and size of contaminants against which the filter acts. As air passes through a building's air conditioning system, air filters trap and collect large and small particles, such as dust, allergens, and microorganisms. The minimum efficiency index (MERV) of an air filter measures how effectively the filter prevents dust and other contaminants from passing through the filter and reaching the air stream. Changing your home's air filter regularly helps keep your indoor air clean by trapping dust particles, allergens, pet dander, pollen, mold spores, bacteria, smoke particles, smog particles, and other airborne pollutants from entering your home's ventilation system.
This helps reduce indoor allergies and asthma symptoms as well as improve overall indoor air quality. In addition to improving indoor air quality, regularly changing your home's air filter can also help reduce energy costs by allowing your HVAC system to run more efficiently. When an air filter becomes clogged with dirt and debris it restricts airflow which can cause your HVAC system to work harder than necessary in order to maintain a comfortable temperature in your home. This can lead to higher energy bills as well as premature wear on your HVAC system components.
It's important to keep in mind that if peak pollen season has passed but someone starts to sniff every time they enter the living room, it's time to remove all the pollen and dust and change the air filter. It will no longer be able to filter the air properly, allowing dust and contaminants to enter the air conditioning system. You might notice that the air coming out of the vents is warmer than it is cold, or that your home doesn't heat up as easily as before. To ensure that your home remains healthy and comfortable while reducing energy costs, it's important to know when it's time to change your home's air filter.
In general, most manufacturers recommend changing it every 90 days or 3 months depending on factors such as location of your home (e.g., dusty and dry climates), if you have pets, and how old the system and equipment are. If you have pets at home or someone with allergies or respiratory conditions in your household, we recommend changing it every 20-45 days instead.
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