There are several criteria heating experts use to determine how often to change air filters.
Most importantly, how often to change air filters depends on:
- Lifestyle habits: what homeowners do inside their homes and the condition of the home
- Lifestyle goals: what homeowners want from their heating and air conditioning and what homeowners want from their air quality
Homeowners are encouraged to work with their HVAC contractors to determine exactly how often to change air filters. However, there are general guidelines that homeowners can follow for proper air filter care.
Why Should Homeowners Change Air Filters?
Air filters protect indoor air quality and the heating and air conditioning equipment. Air filters serve as the first line of defense against:
- Poor indoor air quality
- Harmful buildup
- Expensive heating and cooling repairs
- Inconsistent heating performance
- Shortened service lifespan
- Subpar energy efficiency
When homeowners know how often to change air filters, they choose to actively maintain home comfort and indoor air quality. Unfortunately, some homeowners do not want to know how often to change air filters. They don’t want to think about spending more money on heating and air conditioning. However, they are risking a lot over very little.
What Happens if Homeowners Don’t Change Air Filters?
What happens to the home and the air conditioner if homeowners don’t know how often to change air filters? Plenty of things happen, and they cost homeowners big in more ways than one.
On a technical level:
- Stubborn and damaging buildup collect around parts like fins, blades, motors and wires
- Increased energy spending
- Lower quality of heating and cooling
- Permanent damages
- Expensive repairs
Inside the home:
- Noticeably dusty or dirty air
- Aggravated allergies
- Reduced productivity
- Increased energy bills
- Inconsistent heating and air conditioning performance
- Decreased home comfort and indoor air quality
- Compromised safety
How Often To Change Air Filters for Residential Homes?
For the average home without pets, homeowners should change air filters every 90 days or three months. Heating experts have discovered this is the best way to maximize energy efficiency and indoor air quality while minimizing overall costs and maintenance.
If homeowners follow how often to change air filters for average homes, they have:
- Cleaner indoor air
- Minimal buildup inside the central air system
- Optimal energy efficiency and savings
- Better overall heating and air conditioning
In addition to finding out how often to change air filters, homeowners can also consult their heating specialists to determine what type of air filter works best for their home needs.
How Often To Change Air Filters for Residential Homes with Indoor Animals?
The addition of indoor animals complicates the equation determining how often to change air filters. How?
Indoor animals contribute additional pathogens and particles into home air. The air filter fights against materials like:
- Additional organic waste like dirt, dust and trash
- Viruses
- Bacteria like salmonella and staph
- Dander, hair
- Insects, ticks, tick-borne bacteria
If homeowners share the home with one indoor pet, heating contractors recommend changing air filters every 60 days.
If there is more than one indoor animal, change air filters every 20 to 45 days. HVAC contractors recommend the same for those with allergies or other respiratory sensitivities.
Keep in mind that air filters are very good at their jobs. The typical air filter captures up to 50 percent of all airborne particles when the air conditioner or heater runs. The addition of pets increases the amount of particles and pathogens in home air, which means that air filters work harder to remove more.
How Often To Change Air Filters for Vacation Homes?
Owners of vacation homes or homes with only one occupant and no pets are advised to replace air filters every six to 12 months. Because these homes experience little activity and invite few contributors to indoor air quality, air filters do not need to be changed very often.
However, these homeowners run the risk of forgetting how often to change air filters because it is seldom that air filters actually need changing. In order to ensure that these homeowners keep up with how often to change air filters, schedule a reminder or an HVAC maintenance appointment.
How Often To Change Air Filters Also Depends on These Factors
Homeowners who are still unsure of how often to change air filters should consult their HVAC contractors.
Before meeting with your expert, consider these points:
- Cleanliness of the home
- Indoor smokers
- Construction
- Lifestyle habits
- Health level or concerns
- Ventilation
- HVAC maintenance
Meeting with your HVAC contractor to figure out how often to change air filters is worth the time and trouble. Homeowners are sure to experience an improvement with their heating and air conditioning, spending and home comfort.
Ask Your Service Champions Experts How Often to Change Air Filters
Service Champions Heating & Air Conditioning is the only Diamond Certified HVAC provider for Orange and Los Angeles Counties. We lead in heating and air conditioning repairs, installations, maintenance and advanced air care solutions.
Service Champions HVAC experts are the leaders in home care. We deliver expert technical service with total customer care for your absolute satisfaction.
No matter what ails your home heating and air, we have a solution.
To meet with your Service Champions heating expert, complete the form below. You can also speak to our friendly call center representatives for more information.
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