Along with having your heating and air conditioning professionally maintained every year, replacing the filter is equally as important. In this article, we’ll provide some general recommendations that will help you know how often you should be replacing your HVAC air filter and explain the importance of never going too long without putting a new filter in your HVAC system.
How to Know How Often to Replace an Air Filter
All HVAC manufacturers provide specific recommendations as to how often you should replace your air filter. The general recommendation is at least once every three months. However, many manufacturers have different recommendations for different types of HVAC systems. For instance, if you have a variable-speed AC, heat pump or furnace, the manufacturer will often say to replace the air filter every month or two since these sorts of systems are meant to run continuously. That means the filter gets dirty much faster than the filter in a single-stage HVAC system that typically never runs for more than eight to 10 total hours each day.
You should always make sure that you follow manufacturer recommendations. If you don’t, it can result in your warranty no longer being valid. Your owner’s manual should clearly state what the manufacturer recommendation is, or you can just look up your model online if you don’t have the manual.
One thing to note about the manufacturer recommendation is that it just tells the maximum amount of time you should go between filter changes. That means there may be times when you’ll want to replace the filter sooner because of your air conditioning or heating getting more daily use. (You may also need to if there are pets in your home or you have a respiratory condition.) This is why you should try to get in the habit of removing and checking the filter monthly to see how dirty it is and if you need to replace it.
The main things to focus on when checking the filter are its color and how much debris is stuck to it. You should replace the filter when it starts looking darker and is opaque, as this indicates there is quite a bit of dust trapped in the pleated media and it’s beginning to get clogged.
Why Replacing Your Air Filter Regularly Is So Essential
Not replacing the filter in your HVAC system as often as you should can lead to a variety of issues that negatively impact your comfort and cause higher energy bills. As a filter gets dirtier, the amount of air that can flow through it is continually reduced. This reduction in airflow makes an HVAC system cool and heat less effectively since it results in much less treated air getting produced. In terms of air conditioning, the reduced airflow also means the system will remove heat from your house more slowly. If your HVAC isn’t cooling or heating as effectively, your energy bills will increase since the system will run longer each time it cycles on.
Another reason replacing the filter is so important is that it can have a direct impact on how long your HVAC units last and how often they need repairs. The average lifespan for most HVAC units is around 15 years, but most units won’t even make it 10 years if you don’t replace the filter often enough. Part of the reason is that you’ll end up putting more hours on the system each year due to the system not working as effectively.
You can also end up with issues like overheating or your AC freezing up, both of which have the potential to cause considerable damage or even ruin the furnace, AC, or heat pump altogether. One especially big concern if you have a gas furnace is that the heat exchanger can end up cracking if it overheats. The reason this issue is so serious is that it can allow carbon monoxide to leak out and mix with the hot air coming out of the furnace.
As the number one HVAC service in Galveston, George’s Air Conditioning is the company home and business owners can trust for all their air conditioning and heating needs. We offer expert HVAC installation services, and you can also count on our team to service whatever make and model of HVAC equipment you have. Ask us about our AC maintenance solutions, too! If you have any questions about which type of air filter you should be using or need to schedule a consultation or service appointment, contact us today.
