The general guidelines for how often to change an air filter in an apartment are the same as for a single-family home or a townhouse. Most air filters last from one to three months, but this range is due to the many factors that influence the life of an air filter. Generally, manufacturers and HVAC companies recommend changing the air filter every 90 days or three months. This may vary depending on the location of your home, if you have pets, and the age of your system and equipment.
If you have pets in the house, you should consider changing the filter every 60 days or two months. For households with multiple pets or people with allergies or respiratory conditions, we recommend changing the filter every 20 to 45 days. Vacation homes or vacant homes that don't have much use can usually wait to change filters every 9-12 months. The more you use your home, the more often you need to change your air filter. To determine how often you need to change your air filter, inspect it visually each month.
After a few months, you'll get an idea of how quickly it gets dirty. You may need to re-evaluate if you have a new pet or if the outdoor air quality has been poor. The ideal is to change your air filter every three months, but there are certain factors to consider when determining when to change an old filter. For a little-used vacation home, you could get away with changing filters once a year. However, for a typical suburban home, you'll probably want to change filters at least every 90 days. But that time frame changes depending on other circumstances.
One of the most common questions Florida homeowners have about their home's air conditioning system is how often they should replace the air filter in their air conditioner. Fiberglass air filters are more affordable but less efficient at capturing dust and particles in the air. The air filter in your air conditioner is responsible for removing most of the particles in the air, which can affect indoor air quality and the efficiency of the entire system. One of the most important things you can do on your own to take good care of your HVAC system is to simply change your air filter on a regular basis. But beyond that, the main reasons to change the air filter in your apartment are for comfort and clean air.
If you live in a “smaller house”, your air conditioners and ovens need to pump less air for the same amount of temperature change, which could mean fewer filter changes. As a general rule, lower occupancy of the home extends the life of the air filter while higher occupancy reduces it. If you answer yes to this question, you'll want to change your filter every 6 weeks to maintain the best indoor air quality. Vacant vacation homes, depending on how often you use the system, may change the air filter every 6 to 12 months. Children are more sensitive than adults to indoor air pollutants such as mold, dust mite debris, dander and pollen, so turn your home into an oasis by using quality air filters and replacing them before they become clogged and dirty too much.
The HVAC air filter helps keep indoor air clean by trapping mold particles, pollen, and other contaminants moving through the system. While a filter with a higher MERV rating should last longer, it can also restrict airflow in your home. However, for every pet you have in your home, you should expect to get 30 days less performance from your air filter. The only type of filters that trap allergens and spores are HEPA or high-energy particulate air filters.
