For basic 1 to 3 air filters, brands usually suggest that you change them every 30 to 90 days. If any family member has mild to moderate allergies, you can add a better air filter or change it more often. This is a general recommendation, but there are a few factors that can shorten or extend the time between furnace filter replacement intervals. It's important to check your air filter once a month to see how dirty it is.
This is the only way to know if you really need to change the filter. If you or a family member has a history of allergies or asthma, it's best practice to change the filter once a month, following recommendations from medical associations like The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. In general, you should replace a fiberglass air filter approximately every 30 days or as recommended by the manufacturer. A pleated air filter should be replaced approximately every three to six months. However, the frequency of air filter replacement depends on several factors, such as the home, the occupants and their location.
Setting up reminders on your smartphone can help ensure that you don't forget when it's time for a new furnace filter. When it comes to maintaining a healthy central air system in your home, it's important to remember that you must change your air conditioning filters regularly. A clean filter is necessary to prevent dust from passing through the air conditioning system, where it can accumulate in the interior coils of the air conditioner and reduce its efficiency. If you install an air filter with a MERV rating higher than the one recommended by the boiler or air conditioner manufacturer, you could impair the performance of the heating and cooling system. By filtering contaminants, the boiler filter improves air quality in the home and makes it easier to breathe. If you change your air filter and these problems persist, it's recommended that you contact a professional HVAC technician to help you fix the problem. Knowing when to replace your 14x20x1 air filter is essential for keeping your home's heating and cooling system running efficiently and effectively.
The key is understanding how often these filters need to be changed based on factors such as family size, allergies and other environmental conditions in your home. Generally speaking, fiberglass filters should be replaced every 30 days while pleated filters should be replaced every three to six months. If any member of your family has allergies or asthma, it's best practice to replace your furnace filter once a month following recommendations from medical associations like The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Additionally, if you're using Honeywell furnace filters, keep in mind that they have similar replacement recommendations as standard filters.