How Often Should You Change Your Air Filter?

It may be almost August, but summer’s heat is just beginning. You’ve probably been running your AC for weeks already and, by now, are taking your cool, comfortable home for granted. Well, with your AC running double time and working its hardest, it’s more important than ever that you remember to take care of it by changing the air filter.

So, how often should you change your air filter? Even as an air conditioning service in Oklahoma City, OK, we have to admit that there’s no one answer to that question. How often you change your filter depends on a lot of things, including where you live, what type of AC unit you have and even your lifestyle. However, when in doubt, we suggest that you change your air filter every month during the summer. If you’d like a more accurate estimate, however, here are a few things to keep in mind when determining how often you should change your air filter.

Manufacturer’s recommendation

When determining how often you should change your air filter, a good place to start is to check your manufacturer’s manual. Again, variables within your home may mean you can change your filter less often or more often than the manual recommends, but checking with the manufacturer will give you a ballpark idea.

Type of air filter

The air filter industry has changed a lot over the years. Today, there are many different types of air filters to choose from. Fiberglass filters are the most common and typically only last 1 to 2 months under the best conditions, while top quality filters can go up to 6 months without being changed. Again, check your manufacturer’s manual for recommendations, as well as the packaging on the filter itself. Remember, however, that recommendations on the air filter typically are for ideal conditions.

Number of people and pets in the home

A home with one person creates fewer air pollutants for the air filter to filter out. Typically, a household with one or two people may not need to change the filter for 3 months, while a family of four will have to change the filter every 4 to 6 weeks. Pet hair can also take a toll on an air filter, so the more pets you have, the more often you will have to change the filter.

Local air quality

If you live in an area with a lot of factories, traffic or construction work, the local air quality will be poor and your air filter will need to be changed more often. An air conditioning unit in a home in the countryside, however, can go for a longer period of time before the filter will need to be changed.

Be sure to consider all the factors in your home when determining how often you should change your air filter. And if you find that you’re in need of air conditioning service in Oklahoma City, OK, be sure to call on the experts at Dailey Heating & Air Conditioning!

Categorised in: Air Conditioning Service

This post was written by Writer