Have you been sneezing more lately? Has the air in your home started to feel more stagnate than it should? Has your heating and cooling bills gone up? Then it might be a good time to check your HVAC’s air filter, and chances are, you have not changed it recently. If you own a home or rent, in most cases, you will be in charge of changing the air filter.
Honestly, changing our HVAC’s air filter is not something we think about every day. It is very much a set it and forget it (for a few months) kind of maintenance. It is not a hard or too expensive of a maintenance either, but one we need to stay on top of if we want a more pleasant experience at home.
When should you change your air filter
The first question many of us have is when should we change our air filters? The traditional answer to that is 1″ filters (one of the most common sized filters) should be changed every three months, if not sooner. Each subsequent filter size can go longer before needing to be changed. I have a 4″ filter for my unit, so I could theoretically wait about 6 to 8 months between changing the filters.
However, the size of the filter is really only one part of the equation. The type of filter – how hypoallergenic it is – and your home’s environment both play a crucial role in determining how often you should change your air filter. If you have lots of pets, are allergic to pollens, and have/had a smoker inside the house, then you will likely need to change your air filters sooner. You also might have to change the air filter sooner if you live in an area with higher levels of pollen or pollutants. However, if you live in an area with naturally cleaner air and have no pets, you may be able to get away with going longer in between changes.
Regardless of the estimated timing, if you check your air filter, and it is dirty, then you should go ahead and change it. I recommend checking your air filter once a month for dirt, and changing it when it is dirty. If the filter has not looked dirty then you may be able to go longer. However, if it is getting closer to that 3 months for 1″ filters or 8 months for the 4″ filter, then I would think about changing them anyways. I would also recommend setting up a re-occurring reminder in whatever calendar app you have on your phone to remind you to check your air filter at the start of every month. As an added help, whenever you change an air filter, write the date on the filter itself to remind you how long it has been in between filter changes.
How to change your air filter
Changing your air filter will depend largely on the make and model of your HVAC. However, it is pretty similar across all models. As such, I will walk you through how I changed mine, and that should be similar for you.
- Turn off your unit before attempting to replace it. This will reduce your chance of getting shocked while replacing the filter.
- Open up the compartment that holds your air filter.
- Remove the old air filter, taking note of which way it was installed.
- Insert the new air filter, making sure there are no gaps and that it is installed for proper air flow. Most air filters have arrows on them indicating how air should flow through them.
- Close the compartment holding the air filter.
- Turn back on the unit and confirm it is working properly.
Changing your air filter is generally straightforward. However, if you are having trouble, you can always consult your HVAC’s manual or check online if you no longer have it. As a last resort, you may be able to ask a professional for help, they sometimes do that service for free. By changing it regularly you can improve the efficiency of your home and your overall comfort.
Quote of the day: I love the feeling of the fresh air on my face and the wind blowing through my hair. – Evel Knievel
