Changing Your Air Filter Makes a Big Difference

Your home’s air quality is important to the health, comfort, and happiness of your family. Replacing your house’s air filter is a simple step that can make a big difference in making a happier home.

How often should you change your filter? That depends on a lot of factors, including the type of air filter, the overall air quality of your home, how many people are in the home, the number of pets you own, and the level of air pollution around your home.

Manufacturers generally recommend that you replace your air filter every 30-60 days. If there are only one or two members of your household and you live in a remote area, it will probably not need to be changed often. However, larger families with pets who live closer to the city will need more frequent replacements. The following guide is a good place to start:  

 - Vacation home or single occupant without pets or allergies: 6-12 months
 
 - “Average” suburban home without pets: 90 days

 - Add a dog or cat: every 60 days  

- Add more than one pet or for those who have allergies: 30-45 days

Why is it important to change your air filter? There are a couple reasons. First, a dirty air filter will provide inadequate airflow. This will put unnecessary pressure on your HVAC system and make it work harder to keep your home at your specified temperature. That means a less efficient system that will raise your bills and deteriorate faster.

Another important reason for changing your air filter is to improve the overall air quality in your home. Respiratory illnesses can be triggered due to poor air quality, allergies can be worse than they need to be, and your home’s air quality can even affect your mood.

Curious about how you can improve indoor air quality in other ways? Aside from the simple fix of changing your air filter regularly, call Comfort Engineered Systems for an expert consultation on how to get optimal air quality in your home. Dehumidifiers, humidifiers and air cleaners are just a few of the steps you can take to breathe easier.