How Often Change Central Air Filter

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You've probably got plenty of dwelling house DIYs on your list, only if y'all're looking for something a little more productive to do, now is actually a great time to supervene upon your HVAC (a.k.a. heating, ventilation, and air conditioning organisation) filter. In fact, y'all're probably overdue for a new i! And spring is actually i of the best times to make sure you've got a fresh new filter.

If you're new to maintaining your HVAC arrangement, don't worry—House Cute called in an expert to help: Patrick Van Deventer, product manager for Trane Residential, Indoor Air Quality. Here's his advice for irresolute your air filters, some info about why it's important and how frequently yous need to practise information technology, and the steps to get information technology done yourself—plus, of course, when to telephone call in a pro.

Why Changing Your HVAC Filter Is Important

Air filters are only meant to last for a set amount of fourth dimension (or shorter, but more on that subsequently!), so you demand to be taking note of that date when you install them.

"[Not changing your filter presently enough] could have adverse effects on your HVAC equipment and your comfort," Van Deventer explains. "If it goes too long, filters can load too much and plummet, and that tin can exist really bad cause you may not know it. information technology could go lodged in your fan, or create a big gap where air merely goes around the filter and doesn't get filtered in at all at that point." If your filter isn't actually filtering, information technology tin can affect your health and cause breathing bug, peculiarly for people with allergies or asthma.

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How Often Yous Should Change Your Filter

Follow the instructions, merely practice information technology even sooner.

When you purchase a new filter, the packaging will state how long it should last. But don't look until that engagement to change it! Van Deventer says you should take that date every bit "the absolute maximum" and change your filter even before.

"Substantially, the mode that about of those filters operate is they have a porous media that captures the particulates and that blocks the airflow," he explains. They actually filter a little ameliorate the longer they're in. But [after a while] it likewise starts to really restrict the air menses on your system], which can cause other bug."

Factor in things that tin can affect your air quality.

"Anytime y'all're aware of more pollutants or particles in the air is a adept fourth dimension to alter your filter," Van Deventer says. Allergy and flu seasons, for instance, are good times to upgrade to high efficiency filters! And if you have any kind of habitation renovation going on that could kick up more grit and dirt than usual.

"I would say if at that place'due south whatever kind of home renovation where at that place's drywall—that that'south a huge one that sometimes people don't realize will go sucked into air returns and immediately block up your filter," he notes. "I'd besides say during summer months, if you've got pets and they're just shedding a lot more than usual, that's a proficient fourth dimension."

If you need a way to remember, here's a smart tip: "Someday yous're finding yourself having to vacuum a lot more, that'd be a adept indication that you lot also need to exist checking your filter a lot more as well," Van Deventer says.

Consider seasonal changes.

During spring and autumn, when it's relatively balmy exterior, your air-conditioning and heating may not be running so you might not have your system on at all. "Well-nigh thermostats accept an selection to run the fan on a schedule, or as continuous fan operation, so your whole HVAC system isn't coming on to cool the home or oestrus the home simply it'll still run the fan periodically to cycle the the air," Van Deventer explains.

"Right at present, in spring, it's shoulder season. Since that's when there are a lot of allergens out there, y'all want to be avoiding that stagnant air in the home and running information technology through your filter."

How to Change Your Air Filter

It's actually a pretty straightforward process, so it might be easier than yous think.

Brand sure your organisation is turned off before you do anything!
Locate your air filter. This will likely be where your return (where air is drawn dorsum from your dwelling into your system) is, either on the wall or ceiling, with a grille covering. If not, it will be where your air handling unit is, usually in a closet or your basement or attic—you'll notice a little box where the air comes into the unit.
Remove the grille or open the box, depending on your system. If you take a grille, most take tabs y'all can pull upwards to open, so yous tin access the filter without a screwdriver.
Notice the filter within. The filter should have the size printed on it, or at the very least, a model number you lot can look upward to identify information technology. Brand certain yous buy a filter that'south the same size.
Remove the dirty filter, and await for whatsoever issues. If it's unusually dirty, for case, that's a sign that yous should exist replacing information technology more than frequently. Yous should likewise look for gaps in the filter, which could indicate that your filter isn't big plenty or requires some gasketing to brand information technology fit properly.
Put the new filter in, and replace the grille or cover. Now you're good to go! Just mark down the date on your calendar and then you know when to bank check information technology next.

Buying a New HVAC Filter

You already know that to detect the correct size filter, you can await at the information printed on your current i. But if you're not certain what kind of filter to buy, Van Deventer has some tips.

Allergen Pleated MERV 12 - FPR 9 Air Filters (6-Pack)

Nordic Pure homedepot.com

$43.xxx

"I suggest trying to not utilise the cheapest option out at that place," he explains. "And then there are those little blue or green cobweb type filters—those really do next to cypher, I would make sure that you get a good quality pleated filter instead."

Essentially, you want to wait for a pleated filter that has sturdy wire mesh to support it then it doesn't plummet. You also want it to take a high MERV rating, Van Deventer adds. (MERV stands for "minimum efficiency reporting value," FYI.)

"A adept quality filter is going to be above a MERV viii or nine, meaning it'southward going to filter out a lot more than of those smaller particles that tin can crusade allergies and other issues," he says.

If you're unsure and don't feel comfortable picking out a new filter yourself, you tin can always call in a professional person to help y'all.

Shut-up of a pleated air filter.

Habitation Depot

When to Call in a Pro

Van Deventer says that so long as you're comfortable locating and changing the filter yourself—and yous're not noticing any symptoms that could exist related to indoor air quality—y'all don't need to call in a professional person. That said, regardless of whether or not you're a filter-changing pro at this signal, it's a good idea to have an HVAC contractor check on your arrangement twice a year. This should be washed earlier the cooling season and before the heating flavor.

And of form, while they're in at that place doing a arrangement check, they can replace your filters, also.

If you take any air quality concerns, that'due south likewise a good time to bring in a professional, because it might hateful you need to upgrade your organization. "If you still see a lot of dust everywhere, are still dealing with difficulty breathing, or if you lot've got someone with asthma, you might need to upgrade your air filtration system," he adds.

As for hiring the correct pro, Van Deventer suggests looking for an HVAC contractor with practiced reviews online: "A reputable HVAC contractor volition have a variety of solutions to offering and be able to come up into your home and make an initial assessment on upgrading your system."

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