A MERV 16 filter is the most restrictive and will likely need to be changed every 3 to 6 months. However, experts recommend changing it once every 30 days if your air filter is made of fiberglass filters, which are of relatively poor quality. On the other hand, expensive pleated filters can work well with a replacement once every three months or six months. Filter types are determined by their MERV rating.
A MERV rating, the minimum value of efficiency reports, measures the effectiveness of filtration. The higher the MERV ratings, the more effective the filter will be at not allowing particles in the air to pass through it. We offer MERV 8, 10, 11 and 16 filters for sale in our office and can also place special orders for unique sizes. The MERV rating also generally determines how often the oven filter needs to be changed. You should have a clean filter, MERV 8 filters should be changed every 3-4 months, MERV 10 & 11 filters every 6 months and it's a good idea to change MERV 16 filters every year.
You must change the filter at least every 90 days. In general, most air filter manufacturers and HVAC companies recommend changing your air filter every 90 days or 3 months. That may change depending on the location of your home (e.g. dry and dusty climates), if you have pets and the age of your system and equipment.
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 20-45 days. Usually, vacation homes or vacant homes that don't have much use can expect to change filters every 9-12 months. The general consensus is that the more you use your home, the more you need to change the air filter. You should change most models at least every six months. However, filter quality, allergies, or the presence of children and pets may require more frequent maintenance.
A general rule of thumb for pleated air filters (such as those manufactured by FilterBuy) is to replace the filter every 90 days. As the filter traps more dirt, dust and allergens from the air, the efficiency of the filter decreases. Find out below if you should replace the filter more often. Similarly, a 1-inch pleated filter will need a more frequent change compared to a 4-inch pleated filter that can last up to six months before needing to be replaced because it has more area for particles to accumulate. Use a filter with a MERV rating of 12, such as the Nordic Pure Filter (available on Amazon), if your oven can do it.
If there is only a thin layer of dirt where you can still see the filter underneath, then you probably don't have to change the filter. If you are still unsure of the frequency of changing your oven filter, you can perform a visual check to see if you have an old filter or a newer one. However, northerners whose ovens don't have a break for months may want to change their filter every 30 to 60 days, because more air is being drawn through the filter and it will clog more quickly. You can hear it: Your HVAC technician is giving you lessons on how to make sure you change your air filter. For example, the presence of pets and people with allergies requires an air filter with a higher MERV rating to collect more particulate matter. In general, filters with a MERV 16 rating or lower are considered HVAC system grade filters for residential, commercial, and general hospital use.
It's important to note that there are high-efficiency filters that are designed to filter out small particles of bacteria, mold and mildew, but your standard MERV 8-11 filters will simply block out larger particles of dust, dirt & hair. Because of their pleats, filters, such as the Honeywell Ultra Efficiency filter (also available on Amazon), have more square inches of space to trap dust, so they often require fewer changes, usually every 90 days. We know that home maintenance is already time-consuming, but it's absolutely crucial that you change your air filters regularly. If you have an asthmatic or allergic person at home, change the filter every 6 weeks to ensure the best indoor air quality. In addition to filtering particles filtered by MERV 8 and 11, the MERV 13 can filter kitchen smoke, smog and virus carriers. To sum up: It's important to keep up with regular maintenance on your air filters in order to ensure optimal performance from your HVAC system and maintain good indoor air quality in your home.
The frequency of changing your oven filters depends on several factors such as type of oven used (fiberglass vs pleated), location of home (dry/dusty climates), presence of pets/allergies/respiratory conditions and age of system/equipment...
