Generally, HVAC filters should be changed every 90 days or less. It’s a quick and easy form of AC maintenance and doesn’t require a professional. However, several factors can impact how long your AC filter lasts and when you should replace it, including the following:
Type of Filter
Air filters come in different types. The most commonly used ones in home HVAC systems include:
- Fiberglass Filters: A fiberglass air filter has a thinner material that clogs with dust and particles more quickly. It should be changed every 30 days.
- Pleated Air Filters: A pleated filter is more efficient but costs more upfront. However, it has the potential to last up to 90 days.
Efficiency Rating
Air filter efficiency is determined using a Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) rating. MERV ratings go from 1 to 20. The highest efficiency types catch the smallest particles and include HEPA filters.
Efficiency values can also impact longevity. For example, a mid-efficiency MERV 5 to 10 filter can last two to three months, depending on the filter material and other factors. MERV 11 filters can last three to six months, while some MERV 13 or higher filters can go 12 months before replacement, depending on usage.
Your Home
Various qualities of your home can impact AC maintenance needs. Larger households with more people can generate more dust and debris, which affects filter life. If you have pets, filters should be changed at least every 60 days. Consider replacing an air filter sooner if you have multiple pets or people in your home with allergies or respiratory conditions like asthma.
Home size is another factor to consider. A smaller home usually has smaller air conditioners with smaller filters. While there’s less air to move, which may help a filter last longer, the filter may be smaller too, so the interval is often the same. In larger homes, more air is circulated, meaning the filter may require more frequent replacement.
Outdoor Air Quality
The quality of outdoor air can affect indoor air quality. Automotive exhaust, dust, and debris can enter an urban home and cause particles to clog your air filter. However, pollutants like pollen, mold spores, and wildfire smoke can impact homes anywhere. If poor air quality is often reported in your area, the air filter may need to be replaced more often.
The Season
Your HVAC system likely runs more frequently during the heating and cooling seasons. Therefore, the filter may get dirty faster. That doesn’t mean it can’t get clogged in the spring and fall. Keeping your doors and windows open can increase the level of contaminants in your home. Running the fan to cycle air through the filter can improve indoor air quality but requires replacing the filter as recommended.
How to Know Your Air Filter Needs Replacement
You don’t need to wait for the next annual AC maintenance visit to replace your air filter. Nor is this recommended. At AC Plus, we suggest looking at the filter at least once a month. If the filter is visibly clogged with dust, hair, and debris, or light doesn’t pass through it when you hold it up to a light source, it must be changed. Regularly checking the filter gives you an idea of how quickly it tends to get dirty.
Don’t Forget to Inspect or Replace Your AC Filter
An HVAC filter is designed to protect your heating and cooling equipment. It’s less of an air-purifying feature, which we can install other products for. Standard filters block larger particles that can clog up internal components. Higher-efficiency ones can capture organic pollutants like mold and bacteria that can create buildup inside your AC system.
If a filter gets clogged, it cannot filter out dust and debris. Contaminants can then jam fan motors, valves, and other parts. At the very least, the system will work harder to compensate. This draws more power and reduces the system’s energy efficiency. You’ll not only pay more for energy; the HVAC unit can overwork itself and break down, requiring expensive repairs.
Call AC Plus to Schedule AC Maintenance
Homeowners in Victorville, Redlands, Rancho Cucamonga, and surrounding areas depend on us for professional AC maintenance. We have thousands of 5-star reviews and provide comprehensive HVAC system tune-ups. These include changing filters, cleaning components, lubricating moving parts, tightening fasteners, and performing any part repairs or replacements necessary. Contact us to schedule annual service or if you notice any signs your air conditioner needs maintenance.
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