Replacing the filter in your air conditioning system is incredibly important and can help prevent air conditioning repairs. A clean air filter is imperative to the proper performance and efficiency of your HVAC system, not to mention your home’s air quality. So, just how often should you change your filter? Most commonly you will hear “it depends”, or every 4-6 weeks, even every month. Here are four questions to ask yourself when determining whether or not it is time to change your filter.
What Type of Air Filter Do You Have?
Each type of air filter will have a different life span. You should refer to this life span to help determine how often to change it. If you simply choose to purchase the cheapest air filter available, get ready to change your filters more frequently than those that are moderately priced or high-efficiency. You may end up spending more on the cheap ones than if you had purchased a more efficient type to begin with.
Does Anyone in Your Home Suffer From Allergies?
If you or someone else in your household has allergies, you will need to change your filter more often than a household without allergies. Frequent changing your filter will help remove more of the allergens from the air in your home. If the filter is full and dirty, it won’t be able to trap them.
Do You Have Pets?
The vast majority of cats and dogs shed, and with that comes hair everywhere. That includes in your filters, which will alter the performance of your heating and cooling system. If you have pets that shed, you will need to change your filter more often than someone with no pets.
Do You Want to Save Money?
Not only will changing your filters regularly save you money on your energy bills, but it also can save you money on your heating and cooling system. A dirty filter will restrict your airflow, causing your system to work harder than it needs to. Eventually, this can create issues that may possibly require repairs.
As a general rule of thumb, if it looks dirty, change it. At the minimum, you should at least check the filters on a monthly basis. So do yourself and your system a favor, don’t forget to change the filters!