How Often to Change Air Filter in Your Air Conditioner

Your air filter should be changed every 1 to 3 months, depending on the type of filter. Proper maintenance of your air conditioner and furnace system will ensure better air quality in your home, increase the lifespan of your HVAC unit, and consume less power, resulting in lower energy bills.

It would be more straightforward if all air filters needed to be changed on a set schedule, but, unfortunately, various factors impact the frequency with which a filter needs to be changed.

How often you change your air filter depends on a few fundamental factors – number of pets and household members in a household, location, size of your home, time of the year, allergy sensitivity, and type of filter.

Air filters need to be changed more frequently if you have a larger household. Families with younger children and elderly family members should change their filters every 2 to 3 months to ensure your family is safe from germs and other potentially harmful airborne contaminants.

If you have dogs, cats, or other animals, it's best to replace your filter more often. Pets are a significant factor as they shed hair and dander that can quickly accumulate and obstruct airflow. If you have an indoor pet, you should change your air filter every two months and increase the frequency to every 15-30 days if you have multiple pets and allergy issues.

Your geographical location can also determine how often you should change your air filter. If you live in an excessively hot and humid or dusty region, your air conditioner will probably run for a longer time. The more your AC system runs, the more air blows through the filter. More significant amounts of particulates get trapped when more air moves through the filter. In this instance, you should change the air filter more often.

On the contrary, if you live in a mild climate and use your air conditioner for less than five hours a day, changing the filter can be avoided for a few additional months.

The size of your home can play a significant role in the frequency of air filter replacements. If you live in a larger house, more air is required to circulate through your air conditioner to cool it down. The more air sucked through the air filter, the dirtier and dustier it will get. On the other hand, smaller homes will demand less air pumped, requiring less frequency of replacing the filter.

During peak winter and summer months, your heating and cooling system is operating at its highest capacity, so you should consider changing your air filter more frequently to ensure your unit runs smoothly. 

As anticipated, if the air quality in your home isn't optimal, you will need to replace your air filters more often. The number of pets and family members with allergies will require you to change your air filter more frequently. If an occupant smokes, replacing the air filter can increase air quality within the home. 

Regular maintenance of your home's HVAC system is essential to operate efficiently. Proper care will improve the air quality in your home, increase the lifespan of your unit, and require less energy to help lower your bills. 

Individuals with allergies, asthma, or other respiratory conditions are sensitive to airborne particles. They'll need quality air to lessen the chances of worsening the situation. To guarantee your system is pumping only clean air, change your filters every 30-45 days.

Some air filters are more effective than others. There are two main types of air filters, and the one in your HVAC unit will determine how often it needs to be changed.

While various factors affect the frequency of air filter replacement, a good rule of thumb is to check your air conditioner filter for excess dirt and grime buildup every 30 days to determine whether it needs a replacement. Reference the air filter packaging for the expected lifespan of the filter. Some manufacturers recommend replacing air filters every 30 to 60 or 90 days, depending on the type of air filter. Call your local HVAC professional or the air filter manufacturer if there's ever a question to determine its lifespan.

Homes can have different air condition systems with varying filters of air.

It is vital to switch your air filters regularly to improve the air quality and protect the sensitive components of the air conditioner. Changing your air filter is one of the easiest and most effective ways of ensuring the operational efficiency of your heating and cooling system. Neglected air filters can cause:

• Increased energy bills— When an air filter is blocked, your air conditioner unit has to work harder to pull air through to cool the room. Working harder causes it to run for extended periods, increasing your home's energy. According to the U.S Department of Energy, replacing a dirty, blocked filter can lower your air conditioner's energy utilization by 5% to 15%.
  
  
• Health concerns—If a filter isn't working correctly, dust, pollen, and other allergens can spread throughout your home and increase allergy attacks and respiratory conditions.
  
  
• System failure—An air conditioner system has to work hard to pull air through a dirty filter. Constant strain on your HVAC system can cause it to break, causing you to pay for expensive repairs or replacements.

Your air conditioner continuously circulates air, passing through the air filter. Keeping the filter clean or frequently replacing it is vital to extend your HVAC system's lifespan. 

There's no straightforward answer to how long the air filter can function efficiently before needing a replacement. However, there are some obvious signs that your filter needs a replacement:

Although various factors can determine the frequency, regularly replacing the filter in your air conditioning unit ensures your AC system runs efficiently and, most importantly, maintains quality air in your home.