How often to change air filter on central air

One of the most common questions homeowners in Florida have about their home’s air conditioning system is how often they should replace their AC’s air filter. Your air conditioner’s air filter is responsible for removing the majority of particulates from the air, which can impact indoor air quality as well as the efficiency of the entire system. It can also affect the longevity of the system and its repair needs over time.

Factors that Affect How Often You Should Replace Your AC Filter

Considering the air filter has such an important job, it’s essential to keep your air filter clean. But how often do you really need to change the air filter in your HVAC system? Learn about four factors that impact how often you should replace your air conditioner’s air filter.

1. How Frequently You Use Your HVAC System

How often you should change your air filters depends on how frequently you use your house. For a seldom used vacation home, you could get away with changing your filters once a year. However, for a typical suburban home, you probably want to change your filters at least every 90 days. But that time frame changes based upon the additional circumstances below.

As a general rule of thumb, it is a good idea to replace the air filter in your HVAC system every month. However, multiple factors can affect this timing. For example, in Florida during the warmer months of the year, you probably use your cooling system heavily. While during the mild winters, you may not use your HVAC system much at all. During times you use your system frequently, you may even benefit from replacing the filters every few weeks rather than every month.

2. How Many People and Pets Are in Your Home

The number of people and pets in your home will impact your home’s air quality. A single person without pets will need to replace their air filters far less frequently than a household with kids and multiple pets.

Pets can add excessive dander to your home’s air and can bring more particulates like dust, pollen, and dirt from outdoors into your home. If you have at least one cat or dog, you should change your filters at least every 60 days.

The more pets you have, the more frequently you’ll need to change the filter. For every pet you have in your home, you should expect to get 30 fewer days of performance from your air filter though. If you have multiple pets, then change your filters once a month.

3. What Type of Air Filter You Have

A final factor to consider relates to the efficiency of your air filter. More efficient air filters are designed to trap more particles and last for longer periods of time. It is wise to pay attention the filter manufacturer’s recommendations regarding replacement, and make adjustments based on your usage and how many occupants are in the home.

4. Do You Have Allergies?

In Florida, you may need to change your air filters more frequently because of the presence of moisture, mold, dust, and other allergens. If you have allergies and are sensitive to contaminants in the air, then it’s a good idea to change your air filters every 30-45 days. This helps you and your guests and fellow house dwellers breathe and rest easy in the days to come. Cleaner air means better health for everyone at the end of the day.

How Often Do I Need to Change the Filter?

Unoccupied vacation homes, depending on how often you use the system, could change the air filter every 6-12 months.

Single person households with no pets could replace their air filters as little as every 4-6 months.

Family households with no pets should change the filter at least every 90 days.

Single pet households should change the filter every 60 days.

Households with multiple pets may need to change their filter as often as every 20 days.

Call Energy Air for AC Service

Changing the air filter in your HVAC system is a simple, easy step to take to keep your system running great and to promote superior indoor air quality. If you have questions about air filter replacement or if you need any air conditioning or heating services, Energy Air can help. Give us a call today to learn more about our AC products and services, or schedule an appointment online with one of our experienced technicians.

Schedule Service Online
Orlando: (407) 501-6275 | Tampa: (813) 314-7261

Many homeowners wonder how often they should change their home air conditioning (AC) filters and how to do it? This article can help answers these questions, so that you know when and how to do these tasks.

How often should you change your AC filter?

The easy answer: It depends. Answer these questions first before you decide to change your AC filter and always consult a professional for your AC repair and AC service needs.

• What type of AC filter do you use?
  The types of AC filters used in your home can impact how often you replace the filters. If you use standard 1 to 3-inch air filters, you should change filters every 30 to 60 days if you are allergy-free. Should you suffer light to moderate allergies, change filters or replace them more often, around every three weeks.
• How would you rate your home’s indoor air quality?
  Excellent, good, fair, or poor (someone smokes in the house). Have you noticed any “strange” smells coming from your AC system? If you have, call an expert technician, because these could be signs that your AC needs a tune up.
• What type and number of pets do you have?
  Except for certain dog breeds, e.g. Yorkshire Terriers, which are hypoallergenic and do not shed dander, the type and number of pets in the home dictate more frequent air filter replacement. Add a pet, and you should change your AC air filter, at least, every 60 days. Add another pet, giving you multiple pets, and you should change air filters every 20 to 45 days.
• How many people live in your home?
  If you live alone, without pets and suffer no allergies, you could wait to change filters in 6 to 12 month intervals. However, if your home is “stuffed” with a spouse and several kids, more frequent air filter changes, say every 20 to 45 days, to improve the air quality in your home.
• What is the level of air pollution outdoors around your house?
  Should you live in a rural area or have AC in a vacation home that you only periodically use, the air around your house should be free of high levels of pollution, since there are fewer vehicles to pollute the air.Construction projects going on around your house? The dust outdoors increases, recommending air filter replacement frequency as often as every 30 to 60 days. The same rule of thumb applies if you live on a heavily-traveled roadway.

Finding the “right” air conditioner replacement filter.

There are seemingly an infinite number of filter size options. The sizes and types of AC filters on the market can vary. Call the manufacturer or your favorite expert tech to learn the “right” air filter for your AC system. Visit your AC manufacturer’s website to learn where you can buy the air filters your AC system uses or ask your tech expert for the size you need. You could also remove the one you now use and look on the frame for the labeled dimensions (width, depth, and height).

How to change an AC filter in your home.

Many people do not think about their AC system, until it doesn’t work. You only need to take these three simple steps to improve the efficiency of your AC by 5 to 15%, by changing clogged filters.

1. First, you need to find its location and remove it.
   This may sound silly, but is a true problem for many homeowners. This is particularly common for those who only pay attention to their AC when it stops working.
2. Identify your filter size and types of filters.
   

   Older systems typically use fiberglass air filters. You should replace these regularly, around every 30 days. Newer systems often use pleated filters, also rectangular with a depth of about one inch. You should replace these about every 90 days, if you have no allergies, but AC pros typically recommend every 45 days for max efficiency.

   

   Be sure to replace them with the right size and type of air filter. If your AC was working properly, you could remove the filter and buy one that is identical to it. If you have a “media filter” you’ll only need to replace it every 6 to 8 months. These look like pleated filters, but last longer.

3. Install the filter, once you purchase the type and size you need.
   Don’t forget to install the new air filter. It’s amazing how many homeowners “forget” to install the new filters they buy as replacements.

Summing it up.

It is vital that you choose the right filter for your AC system. The key is to change them (or clean them) regularly. Always replace a clogged filter with a new, clean one. If you suffer with allergies or have a pet, change filters more often than the “rules of thumb” appearing earlier in this article.

If you prefer, Petro Home Services expert field techs can offer service plans that cover regular AC filter replacement. You also can call your local Petro depot and ask about our maintenance/service plans.

Learn more about the air conditioning service plans we offer at Petro Home Services so that you can be sure your AC is running just as it is meant to! Make Petro Home Services your new go-to for all your essential air conditioning resources!

Contact Petro today at Sales 888.735.5651 or Service 800.645.4328

Sources:

https://www.cleanerfilters.com/index.php/how-to-find-size

http://www.doityourself.com/stry/how-to-replace-an-air-conditioner-filter

Related resources:

When to replace your Central Air Conditioning System

Choosing the best Air Conditioner for your home

Types of Air Conditioners comparison infographic

How often should you change your central AC filter?

What happens if you dont change AC filter?

How often am I supposed to change the air filter in my house?

How do you know when to change your AC filter?