How Frequently Should I Change My Air Conditioner Air Filter?

Every once in a while we’re asked what is the best thing that Dallas area homeowner's can do to ensure efficient functionality of their air conditioning and heating system between their scheduled PLUS Maintenance Tune-ups? That’s an easy one; remember to change the heating and air conditioning air filter. Replacing furnace and return air filters is critical to the effectiveness of your HVAC system, as well as your home's air quality. Did you know indoor air pollution is in the top five environmental health risks? You probably don’t consider it as you sit and watch TV, but this is the air you breathe day and night. Changing the air filters is not a tough thing to do for most Dallas homeowners, but there are often two obstacles to actually completing this job:

1. Knowing just how often to swap out your furnace or air conditioner filter.
2. Changing them when you’re suppose to.

When To Change Your Air Filters

Most filters have a timeline printed on the box or plastic. It may read "Lasts up to 3 months" or "Change filter every 90 days". Pay attention at the store and you should see that some are meant to only last a month, while other manufacturers (like Honeywell) have produced media air cleaners with filters meant to be exchanged once every 6-12 months. The norm seems to be once every three months for most higher quality filters, but we have a rule of thumb that we tell our customers to go by. If the filter is dirty, change it! A dirty air filter can add or cause damage to expensive components, like your compressor, so it's better to change it out more often than neglect it. If you want to stick to the manufacturer's recommended limit, we suggest marking the date on the filter when you swap it out, and adding a reminder for yourself in your phone or on a calendar. Also note that your filter manufacturer might have a different recommendation from your HVAC equipment manufacturer.

Deciding how often to change your air filters relies upon several factors:

• Which air filter your system requires
• The collective air quality of your Dallas area home
• Pets – Birds, cats, dogs, hamsters (do you have one?), etc.
• Number of people in the home
• The level of air pollution and construction around the home

For your standard 1"-3" air filters, the OEM specs basically tell you to change them every 1 or 2 months, which is actually a great rule of thumb. However, general guidelines are not applicable to all. If you have to endure light to moderate allergies, you may need to upgrade the air filter or change them even more regularly than OEM specifications. On the other hand, if you're in a less populated area, own a infrequently occupied home (like a vacation home) or an area with little auto traffic, replacing your air filters each year may be quite sufficient. Why do we call out our beloved pets? They have a tendency to shed, which can clog your air filter quick. Of course, the air filter is just doing its job by trapping pet hair and dander, but tremendously dirty filters can cause diminished HVAC performance.

In summary:

• Vacation home or single occupant homes without pets or allergies: Change 6-12 months
• Typical suburban home without pets: Change every 90 days
• House with a pet: Change every 60 days
• More than one pet or have allergies: Change every 30-45 days

How To Remember To Change Air Filters

Levy & Son offers a simple solution; sign up for the Service Experts Email Club. This is a convenient way to get money-saving discounts and other helpful information on your smartphone, tablet or desktop. In addition, your email subscription preferences let’s you set a reminder to change your Dallas area home's air filter every 30, 60, 90, 120 or 365 days, or the date of your choosing.

How to replace your return air filter

Most of you know how to replace the air filter in their system, but some homes have an additional filter in the return vent. Whether you have one or not is dependent on the HVAC manufacturer's recommendation. Your HVAC is made to handle a set amount of pressure in your home, and the more filters you have the more the blower motor works, which can decrease the life expectancy of your system if it isn't designed for it. Finding out whether you have a return filter and replacing it is simple:

1. Locate your return air vents.
2. Some covers have screws and some have tabs. Unscrew or pull tabs to pull off the wall.
3. Inspect for a filter. If one is in place, pull it out and write down the size.
4. Verify the filter type is the one recommended by the manufacturer.
5. If filter is dirty, replace with the manufacturer's recommended filter of the same size and type.

Incredible though it may seem, filters can really affect your home's airflow, which is why we recommend referring to the manufacturer. A top tier HEPA filter that is designed to catch finer debris will restrict airflow more than a cheaper filter. With restricted airflow comes greater pressure on your system, so you should verify that your HVAC system was made to handle it. Otherwise, you could experience lowered heating and cooling efficiency in your home, and unit parts may wear out much faster than the standard.