The furnace filter is an essential part of your home's heating and cooling system. It helps to keep the air clean and free of contaminants, while also helping to maintain the efficiency of your HVAC system. But how often should you replace your furnace filter?In general, most air filter manufacturers and HVAC companies recommend changing the air filter every 90 days or 3 months. However, there are some factors that can shorten or extend the time between furnace filter replacement intervals.
For 3- and 4-inch filters, plan a replacement approximately every six to nine months. If you have larger 5- or 6-inch filters, you'll need to change them every nine to 12 months. The thickness of the filter placed also affects how often you need to replace it. Thinner filters, such as the traditional disposable model (1 inch thick) should be replaced at least every two months.
Thicker filters are designed to be more efficient because the thicker the material, the more dirt you can filter out of your home's air ducts. Even thick filters need to be changed every 6 to 12 months. In addition, the location of your home and whether or not you have pets can also affect how often you need to replace your furnace filter. Vacation homes or vacant homes that don't have much use can usually wait to change filters every 9-12 months. If you have pets in the house, you should consider changing the filter every 60 days or 2 months, and for households with multiple pets or people with allergies or respiratory conditions, we recommend changing the filter every 20 to 45 days. When the filter is clogged, it is more difficult for the oven to draw in air, causing it to work harder and consume more energy.
Regularly replacing your oven filter is a simple way to maintain healthy air quality in your home, keep your oven in good condition, and even save on energy costs. If you can't seem to remember to do it, a good rule of thumb is to change the oven filter every time the seasons change. Your specific situation is unique, but most air filtration experts agree that there is a general service life for oven filters. Using an air filter with a MERV rating higher than recommended by the manufacturer of your oven or air conditioner may impair its performance. So how often should you actually change your oven filter? Let's take a deeper look at your home oven filter, what it does, and why it's important to change oven filters regularly.
