A good rule of thumb is to change 1- to 2-inch filters every three months, 4-inch filters every six months, and 5-inch filters every 12 months. This is a general recommendation, but there are some factors that can shorten or extend the time between filter replacements. 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.
In general, most air filter manufacturers and HVAC companies recommend changing the air filter every 90 days or 3 months. This may change depending on the location of your home, if you have pets, the age of your system and equipment, and other factors. If you have pets in the house, you should consider changing the filter every 60 days or 2 months. For households with multiple pets or people with allergies or respiratory conditions, we recommend changing the filter every 20 to 45 days. Vacation homes or vacant homes that don't have much use can usually wait to change filters every 9-12 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. A clean filter is necessary to prevent dust from passing through the HVAC system, where it can accumulate in the internal coils of the air conditioner and reduce the efficiency of the unit. If you are allergic to dust or pet dander, you should change your air filters more regularly than every 90 days.
Because filters with higher MERV ratings are denser, your oven must work harder to draw air through them, and not all ovens are powerful enough to do so. A number of factors need to be considered when deciding how often to change an oven filter, and many filter manufacturers recommend how often your product should be replaced. Filters with higher MERV ratings trap small particles more effectively than filters with lower MERV ratings. No two houses are the same, so despite guidelines, you may need to change your boiler filter more often than your neighbor. Larger homes have large volumes of air circulating around them, which means that the filter may need to be changed more frequently. Without this air circulation, your system will produce heat, but it will remain contained in the oven and will never heat your home.
Use a filter with a MERV rating of 12, such as the Nordic Pure filter (available on Amazon), if your oven can do it. Let's go through the basics of your oven filter and determine exactly how often you need to change it. In general terms, HVAC furnace filters do not need to be changed as frequently during the winter months compared to the summer months. If you answer yes to this question, you'll want to change your filter every 6 weeks to maintain the best indoor air quality. Even if no one in the house is allergic, it is advisable to change the oven filter frequently - as often as every 30 days if you have several pets - in order to keep the oven running efficiently. You may not have realized that your oven filter needs to be changed because oven filters are not needed in all HVAC systems. Learning to choose between different types of oven filters can help keep your home cozy and your air fresh and clean for years to come.
Knowing how often you should replace your furnace filter is an important part of maintaining a healthy home environment.
