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I read a couple of articles online on timing regarding changing HVAC filters. The Bob Villa site says once every 3 months (which is what I've been doing). The air filter is 20x25x4. The product guideline says it should last for 12 months. I do have some pretty good allergies and I'm highly allergic to grasses, cedar, mold, and ragweed. I get the one with the Merv rating of 12. I was late one time and changed it at the 4-month mark. There was noticeably more dust on it.
The more often you change the filter or clean it the better for you and the environment in the house. There is no negative thing as too often, but there is more dust pollen bacteria to deal with the longer you go before cleaning/changing filters. Plus the more clogged the filter the more work on your cooling/heating unit.
The more often you change the filter or clean it the better for you and the environment in the house. There is no negative thing as too often, but there is more dust pollen bacteria to deal with the longer you go before cleaning/changing filters. Plus the more clogged the filter the more work on your cooling/heating unit.
Well there is a cost factor. At just under $37 a filter, if I were to change it monthly that sets me back $444 a year (which is what the property management group had our former tenants doing). That was built into the rent so I wasn't concerned about it. I know however, when we first moved in and I changed it that quickly, the filter looked practically unused. Hence I was trying to get a better gauge since the manufacturer claims they are 12 month filters and most things I read online claim they should last 6-8 months (I was changing quarterly). We are in an energy efficient house so I don't notice any real energy savings. With that said, replacing an HVAC is extremely costly so clearly I'd like to get the biggest bang for the buck on that end. And I certainly don't want my allergies to get worse.
I change my Merv 11 25"x20"x4'" filter twice a year.
Same here with the in-unit filter. However, I change the filter in the ceiling intake about every 3 months (the cheap filter, as advised) because it picks up more pet hair.
My intent is to change it every 6 months but in all honesty, its probably been an easy 2 years since it was last changed...oops. Ill add that to my to do list this week.
Every 6 months is adequate. Any more than that and you are throwing money away. For those who say they have allergies, asthma, etc. and change them more often, you are actually allowing more allergens to circulate through your house. The filtering efficiency actually goes up as filters catch lint, hair and other particles because it reduces the size of the openings between the filter fibers. That is why you can hear the air hissing or whistling through the filter if you leave it in too long. For allergies, you are better off leaving the filters in for the longer amount of time possible. The trade off is it also restricts the air flow to some degree and reduces the efficiency of your heat or air due to the slower rate of air flowing through the air handler.
I have a Merv 13 and I change it once a year (or 9-12 months). One time I inadvertently left it for 18 months. That was too long. I change out the light kit in the air filtration system every other year. It's all expensive and I buy the brand made for my unit. But, I have severe allergies and asthma.
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