How Often Should Filters Be Changed

The curt reply: Every three months.

The long reply: Information technology depends on several factors, such as filter thickness, air quality where you live, the size of your home and whether y'all have pets.

When'south the concluding time you inverse your furnace filter? Oh, c'monday. Nosotros won't tell anyone. Half dozen months ago? A year? Not since you moved into the house?

This May Also Interest You lot: Replacing Your HVAC Filter Is a Breeze! Follow These 7 Steps

If information technology'south been a while, your cloak-and-dagger's safe with us. But if you really can't retrieve the last time you swapped out filters, that may mean it's been too long.

How frequently yous need to change your furnace filter actually comes down to what goes on in your home. Here'due south what y'all need to know.

very dirty furnace filter ----------------------------------------

What Does a Furnace Filter Do, Exactly?

Disposable furnace filters are usually made of fiberglass or cotton wool. They trap airborne contaminants like dust, dirt, pilus, mold and other allergens. According to Bob Vila, filters are meant to protect your furnace from these particles, and improving air quality is actually just a beneficial side outcome.

And so … How Often Do I Need to Replace Information technology?

The basic consensus amidst HVAC professionals is that you should supervene upon your furnace filter every 90 days — or every iii months. Still, that depends on the filter's thickness. Thicker filters accept more than room to collect clay and dust, and so they don't have to be changed as often. Thomas & Galbraith Heating, Cooling and Plumbing of Ohio recommends swapping out filters that are less than two inches thick every xxx to 90 days. 3- or four-inch filters tin go for 6 to nine months, and filters up to 6 inches thick can be replaced once a year.

According to The Home Depot, the air quality where yous alive tin can bear on how often your furnace filter needs to exist inverse. Bigger houses accept larger volumes of air circulating around, which means the filter may need to exist changed more often. Modest houses and vacation homes may require less-frequent filter replacements.

The best way to know if you need to replace your filter is to go look at it. If it's gray and covered in dust and debris, it'southward time for a modify.

I Have Pets. How Oft Should I Modify My Filter?

Pet fur and dander will clog up the filter quickly, then yous'll desire to change it more often. If you have ane pet, Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning of Texas recommends swapping 1- to 3-inch filters every 2 months. If you have multiple dogs and cats, alter the filter every iii to six weeks.

What If I Wait for Longer Than That?

Furnace filters are designed to trap the stuff your furnace doesn't desire in its system. But if you lot let that stuff build up for too long, it may harm your wellness and the health of your furnace.

According to HVAC.com, the consequences can range from broken furnace parts to whole-organization failures. Your furnace will have to work harder to pump air through a clogged filter, driving up your energy bills and shortening the furnace's lifespan. Extremely dirty air filters may no longer catch airborne particles. Instead, the grit is pushed dorsum out into the air and, eventually, into your lungs.

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installing of a new furnace filter -------------------------------------------

Fine, I'll Change It. How Exercise I Know Which Kind to Get?

In that location are dozens of different types of filters bachelor. To go along information technology simple, purchase the aforementioned size filter you already have. Before you run to the hardware shop, notation the dimensions and thickness of your electric current filter. You may as well desire to jot downwardly the brand or have a flick of the whole affair to compare at the store.

While y'all're filter shopping, yous may come up beyond another metric: MERV. MERV stands for minimum efficiency reporting value. The college the MERV, the college the efficiency and the better the filter is at trapping particles. According to Atomic Filters, filters rated above MERV 8 will protect your home'south air quality; annihilation lower is just at that place only to protect your furnace.

How Do I Bandy Information technology Out?

Basically, you lot unscrew the filter cover, pop out the old filter and slide in a replacement. For a more than detailed how-to, bank check out our step-by-stride guide hither.

Since we're all dwelling at present more than always, being prepared for unexpected home repairs with a plan from HomeServe is important. Having a plan in place gives you peace of mind knowing that y'all can simply telephone call our 24/7 repair hotline for covered breakdowns. See what plans are available in your neighborhood.