How Often Should I Change My Air Conditioning Filter?

Written by Hanna Plumbing & Heating / July 12, 2017

Maintaining your furnace and air conditioner is essential to its efficiency and longevity! One of the most important routine maintenance items is changing your air conditioning filter.  A dirty filter slows the air flow through your system and makes the operation of your HVAC system harder, which wastes energy and could potentially cause future problems. The filter removes debris and pollutants from circulating in your home, therefore improving your air quality.

For standard residential disposable filters you should change your filter every 3 months, while higher efficiency filters can last 6 months to over a year. The life of your filter could be shorter if there are heavier pollutants in your environment such as pet hair or smoke. Commercial or Industrial facility filters may vary, depending on the nature of their business. You should adjust your schedule to fit the needs of your home and HVAC system. 

How to Remember Your HVAC Maintenance Tasks

It’s not always easy to remember changing your filters. We recommend setting up alerts on your electronic calendar.

Getting the Right Size Air Conditioning Filter

To find out what size of air filter you require, simply look at your old one. It is typically displayed on the side of your existing air filter. If not, measure the length and width to make sure you purchase the correct size replacement. Replacement filters are available at hardware or home improvement stores, and online.

Save Your HVAC System and Heating & Cooling Expenses

Since heating and cooling make up about 50% of our energy bills , it helps to save energy any way we can. The United States Department of Energy reports that changing your HVAC filter can improve the efficiency of your HVAC equipment by 5% to 15%. Iowa Energy Center states, “In a typical home, nearly half of all energy use is devoted to heating and cooling. This can be especially true in Iowa, known for its seasonal temperature extremes. Unfortunately, some of that money may be wasted due to leaky ceilings, walls and foundations; inadequate insulation; and inefficient or improperly maintained equipment.”

For a free recommendation on a maintenance schedule, please contact Hanna Plumbing & Heating experts.