You already know how important it is to change your HVAC filters. But how often should you change them? That’s a great question, and it’s one we get a lot. A good rule-of-thumb is to change your 1-2″ filters every 30-60 days and your 3-5″ filters every 9-12 months. But again, that’s just a rule-of-thumb. So, here are a few considerations that might help you dial in on a more customized answer.
- Pets: If you have pets—especially pets that shed—your HVAC filter ends up working a little harder and will get dirty and clogged much faster than a non-pet household’s might. Consider checking your filter every 45 days, and change it if it’s looking particularly hairy.
- Your Health: If you have a respiratory condition or bad allergies, you’ll probably want to change your filters more often. Swapping those filters out every 20-45 days could help bring a bit of relief.
- Location: Some areas of the country have to deal with lots of dust or pollution. Here in the Indy/Carmel area, it’s mostly pollen. It’s typically not enough to require extra filter changes, but keep an eye on the weather reports—if we’ve gone through a month with a particularly high pollen count, you might want to go ahead and replace.
- Vacation Homes: If you have a vacation home or a guest house that’s rarely occupied, you can usually get away with changing that HVAC filter less frequently—maybe even every 6-12 months. But it would still be a good idea to check the filter every 90 days or so, just to make sure it’s still in working condition.