The general consensus among HVAC professionals is that you should replace your furnace filter every 90 days or every three months. However, this depends on the thickness of the filter. Thicker filters have more room to accumulate dirt and dust, so they don't need to be changed as often. The filter must be changed at least every 90 days (or cleaned if you use a permanent filter).The purpose of the filter is to collect dust, hair, and other small particles in the air so they don't damage the components of the furnace.
Thomas & Galbraith heating and cooling professionals who are NATE certified explain why furnace filters need to be changed. Thicker filters have more capacity to capture contaminants, so a 5-inch filter requires less frequent changes than a 1-inch one. If you have indoor air quality equipment such as air purifiers and air filters, it reduces the amount of contaminants in the air, so the furnace filter has fewer particles to capture. In homes without this equipment, the furnace filter is the only line of defense against airborne contaminants, so it fills up faster. When furnace filters are forgotten or neglected to be changed, several problems can arise in Cincinnati homes.
The filters are designed to trap dust and particulates suspended in the air as it passes through the filter and into the furnace system. Depending on your lifestyle and type of furnace filter you choose, you may want to change it more often. How often this task needs to be done largely depends on the type of furnace filter installed. If your household members suffer from allergies or asthma, you should change your furnace filters more often. In larger homes, changing furnace filters is done more often than in homes with only one or two occupants.
Marking the calendar every 90 days or trying to remember when you last changed the filter can be quite a challenge, which is why many furnace manufacturers recommend changing them at the start of each new season. If your furnace can handle it, use a filter with a MERV rating of 12, such as the Nordic Pure Filter (available on Amazon).As a general rule, to make allergy sufferers as comfortable as possible, change the furnace filter every 30 to 60 days. However, people in colder climates whose furnaces are not interrupted for months may prefer to change the filter every 30 or 60 days, as more air passes through the filter and clogs up more quickly. The main function of a furnace filter is to trap airborne contaminants, not for reasons of air quality, but to keep them out of the heating and cooling system.
A number of factors must be considered when deciding how often a furnace filter should be changed, and many filter manufacturers recommend how often their product should be replaced. Dirty furnace filters are a disaster for heating and cooling equipment, home comfort, and indoor air quality. When it comes to replacing your furnace filter, there are several factors that need to be taken into consideration. The thickness of your filter will determine how often it needs to be replaced; thicker filters can hold more dirt and dust before needing to be changed. Additionally, if you have any indoor air quality equipment such as air purifiers or air filters installed in your home, this will reduce the amount of contaminants in your air and thus reduce how often you need to replace your furnace filter. If anyone in your household suffers from allergies or asthma, it's important that you replace your furnace filter more frequently - ideally every 30-60 days - as this will help keep them comfortable. In larger homes with multiple occupants, changing your furnace filter more often is recommended than in smaller homes with only one or two people living there. Finally, if you're looking for an effective way to keep your home's air clean and free from contaminants, consider using a MERV rating 12 filter such as Nordic Pure Filter (available on Amazon).
This type of filter will help keep your home's air clean while also reducing how often you need to replace it.
