How Often Should You Check Your Home Air Filter?

It's important to check your air filter at least once a month to determine if it needs to be changed. After a few months, you'll get an idea of how quickly it gets dirty. Most air filter manufacturers and HVAC companies recommend changing the filter every 90 days or 3 months, but this can vary depending on the location of your home, if you have pets, and how old the system and equipment are. If you have pets at home, it's best to change the filter every 60 days or every 2 months.

For homes with multiple pets or people with allergies or respiratory conditions, we recommend changing the filter every 20 to 45 days. Vacation homes or vacant homes that don't get much use usually wait to change filters every 9 to 12 months. The more you use your home, the more often you'll need to change your air filter. A general rule for pleated air filters (such as those made by FilterBuy) is to replace them every 90 days.

As the filter traps more dirt, dust and allergens from the air, its efficiency decreases. To determine if you need to replace the filter more often, consider factors such as the home, its occupants and their location. By filtering these contaminants, the boiler filter improves air quality inside the home and makes it easier to breathe. The only type of filters that trap allergens and spores are HEPA filters, or air filters for high-energy particles.

Fiberglass air filters should be replaced approximately once every 30 days or as recommended by the manufacturer. Pleated air filters should be replaced approximately once every three to six months. However, some air conditioning systems have filters inside the return air ducts spread over several rooms in the house. Outdoor air quality can have a big impact on how often the filter gets dirty and needs to be changed.

The easiest way to find an air filter that's right for your home is to locate the filter that's already installed. If there is a visible layer of dirt that covers most of the filter surface and is thick enough to hide the filter material itself, it is a sign that the filter has been in the air conditioning system for too long. Pleated filters are often better than those that are not pleated, as they allow a larger surface area to accumulate dust, pet hair and other debris that floats in the air. The minimum efficiency value (MERV) rating of an air filter measures how effectively it prevents dust and other contaminants from passing through.