Determining the best time to change
the air filter in one’s home is one of the more common questions people ask
their electricity company and favorite home improvement experts. It’s also one
of the most important factors in the size of your electricity bill and the
health of your home’s Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system.
In this article, we will discuss the following topics:
Our goal is to help you keep your HVAC system in excellent working
condition for as long as possible — and to save you some money by becoming
more energy-efficient.
The answer is simple:
You should change your filter once a month, every month, and optimally on the same day every month.
This “every 30 days” rule of thumb applies to basic fiberglass
filters on the market. It’s especially true if you or a family member has
allergies, you have a pet, or your home is located in an area with
above-average pollution.
Luckily, it’s easy to set reminders on your phone to both order
new filters and replace old ones. In fact, many online retailers offer you the
chance to set up a recurring shipment so that you always get a filter when you
need it.
In short, a clean air filter is essential for the free and clean flow of air, not only for the people breathing it, but also the HVAC unit creating it.
As with most things in life, there are exceptions to any general rule, including our suggestion of when you should change the air filter in your home. The three we mention below factor in your living situation, the type of filter you use, and more. Let’s examine them now.
This includes folks who live in an area with mild winters and
summers or people who own multiple homes that get used infrequently for
vacation purposes or as an Airbnb. In essence, if you aren’t using your air
conditioners often, then you probably need to change the filter once every 6
months.
By “MERV,” we don’t mean Merv Griffin, the iconic talk show host
and game show creator. We’re talking about MERV, “Minimum Efficiency Reporting
Value” or rating of how good an air filter is at stopping particulate matter from
spreading around your home by your HVAC unit. The higher the MERV rating of
your air filter, the less often you need to change it — often only every three
months (or 90 days).
Be forewarned: higher quality air filters are more expensive, and
the ductwork and return vents in older homes aren’t set up to use such filters.
So, if you think the tradeoff between a better air filter and a higher price
point is worth it to you, there’s still a chance you can use one with a high
MERV rating.
This simply means you live alone without a pet in a small home or
apartment that doesn’t experience above-average pollution or pollen counts. In
other words, your home doesn’t have lots of dust and allergens floating around,
so you only need to change your filter every three months.
Whatever schedule works best for you, your home, and your situation, it’s important you still change your air filter regularly. The reasons for this basic form of home maintenance are rather straightforward and don’t require years of education at “Bob Vila University.”
A dirty air filter means your HVAC unit is working extra-hard to
pump air in your home at what should be normal levels. The harder it works, the
faster it will need repairs and replacing. A clean air filter means the air is
flowing freely through your home without any obstructions because your HVAC
unit is operating at peak efficiency, which leads to a unit with longer
life.
Additionally, when your HVAC unit starts working overtime to pump
air through your home, that increases your electricity usage and bills. And as
we’ve said before, your
heating and cooling systems account for the largest percentage of your energy
bills. By taking the simple step of replacing your air filter on a
regular basis, your heater and air conditioner will work efficiently, which
translates to more affordable energy bills.
This one seems obvious, but we often forget it. A clean filter
means your home has clean air. It’s the reason we recommend that families with
children, pets, and allergy sufferers change the air filter in their home every
single month. People need to breathe, and they deserve to breathe air that’s
good for them. Replacing a dirty air filter with a clean one accomplishes this.
Lucky for you, we live in an era of unprecedented technological
advances. So, whether it’s on your phone, your work calendar, your family’s
shared digital calendar, or the old-school paper calendar stuck with a magnet
to your refrigerator door, it’s essential you set clear reminders for yourself
to change your air filter. Taking this one step could be what separates you
from a large repair or medical bill in the future.
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