For homeowners, understanding how often to change their HVAC air filter is essential for keeping their oven running smoothly and improving their home's indoor air quality. The lifespan of a filter depends on its size, the quality of the air in the home, and how often the HVAC system is used. In this article, we'll discuss how long 1-inch, 2-inch, 3-inch, 4-inch, 5-inch, and 6-inch filters last and what factors affect their lifespan. The first major difference between 1-inch and 2-inch filters is their lifespan.
For 1 to 2 inch filters, they should be changed every 1 to 3 months. For filters 3 to 4 inches, they should be changed every 6 to 9 months. And for filters 5 to 6 inches, they should be changed every 9 to 12 months. How often you change your home's HVAC air filter also depends on the different qualities in your home that affect the filter.
When you remove the air filter from the air handling unit, if you hold it close to a light source, you can see if the filter is dirty or clogged; if you can't see the light through the filter, it's definitely time to change it. The longer the filter is in place, the more dirt, dust and allergens are trapped, clogging the filter and decreasing its efficiency. 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. If you live in a mild climate and only use your air conditioner or heater for a few hours a day, a filter could last the entire season or up to an entire year. Regardless of the HVAC system you have, each unit needs a properly tuned quality filter to keep indoor air quality clean and your unit operating at peak efficiency. On the other hand, if you use your HVAC system almost constantly, you'll need to change the filter every few weeks (especially if you use fiberglass filters).
Even if no one in the house is allergic, it's wise to change the oven filter frequently, as often as every 30 days if you have multiple pets, to keep the oven running efficiently. To keep air quality under control and your home clean, you'll want to replace the filter with a minimum interval of 2 to 3 months. If you have multiple smokers in your home, you'll need to adjust those numbers to once a month for one- to two-inch filters, two months for four-inch filters, and three months for five-inch filters. Considering the factors that influence the air quality inside your home is a good measure of how often boiler filters need to be replaced. Once you have located the oven filter, you must determine the type of filter that you have already installed in your unit. In summer and winter peaks, air filters should be changed more frequently than necessary during the spring, fall, and milder months.
One of the most important things you can do on your own to take good care of your HVAC system is to simply change your air filter on a regular basis. To ensure that your HVAC system runs efficiently and effectively all year round and that your indoor air quality remains clean and healthy, make sure that you replace your air filter as often as recommended.
