Furnace Filter Change Frequency

When to change an air filter.

Furnace filter change frequency.

Though you don t have to change your furnace filter every single month it should be changed every three months at most as the seasons change. Does someone in your home have asthma and or allergies. Find out below if you should be replacing your filter more often. Fiberglass filters are a lower cost option but they need to be disposed of and replaced roughly every 30 days.

Your furnace s owner s manual will specify the best merv rating for your furnace and in general filters with a merv rating of 6 through 9 should be changed every 90 days while those with a merv. When in doubt we suggest that you check the filter to see if it is truly dirty. Staying on top of furnace filter changes will positively affect the health of your family and your hvac system by improving your indoor air quality. Don t wait for it to completely clog before you change it doing so means you ll pay higher energy bills and risk expensive furnace repairs.

Our very general suggestion is to check your air filter every 1 to 3 months and change it when there s a thin layer of dirt on the filter. The frequency at which your air filter should be changed depends on a variety of factors including the type of filter in your hvac unit. Merv 8 filters should be changed every 3 4 months merv 10 11 filters every 6 months and merv 16 filters every year. A good rule of thumb is to change 1 2 inch filters every three months 4 inch filters every six months and 5 inch filters every 12 months.

Standard 1 inch filters need to be changed every 1 to 3 months while high efficiency filters should be changed approximately every 6 to 9 months. The longer the filter is in place the more dirt dust and allergens are trapped clogging the filter and decreasing their efficiency. The merv rating also determines generally how often to change your furnace filter. As your filter traps more dirt dust and allergens from the air filter efficiency decreases.

The filter is visibly dirty. So be sure that your furnace filter is switched out at the start of winter fall spring and summer. Usually 30 days is on the low end and up to 12 months on the higher end. Signs your air filter needs changed.