Do you need some help with your furnace system? Call Leith Heating & Cooling today to schedule an appointment.
The filter in a heating and cooling system traps airborne dust, bacteria, mold, lint, and other small particles, keeping them from cycling back into your indoor space. Thus, a clean furnace filter will make the air around your property easier to breathe.
How often should you change the filter on your furnace, seeing how much contaminant it can accumulate over a short time? Leith Heating & Cooling, the premier choice for furnace repair in Schaumburg, covers the details below.
The Right Furnace Change Frequency You Should Maintain
The easiest way to know how often you should change your furnace filter involves following the filter manufacturer’s recommendations. The type of furnace filter determines how long you can use it. Generally, you should change a fiberglass furnace filter every month. Pleated air filters, on the other hand, can last three to six months before they need replacing.
Factors That Can Influence the Filter Change Frequency
Like all things HVAC, there’s some subjectivity when it comes to determining how regularly you can change your furnace filter.
For example, it wouldn’t make a lot of sense for you to change the furnace filter in your vacation home that only sees a handful of people each year with the same regularity as you change the furnace filter in your home with multiple occupants, pets, and weekend visitors.
For that vacation home, in this example, you can plan to change fiberglass filters once every six months and pleated filters once a year.
How often should you change the filter on your furnace in a busy home? For a fully occupied home, the right filter change frequency will depend on the following factors:
The Number of Occupants
A home with two adults and a child will not generate as many contaminants as one with three to four adults and multiple children. The volume of contaminants will rise with every occupant added, even for those on short visits.
Volume of Dust
The furnace filter in a countryside home with vast open spaces all around the house will accumulate more dust than one in a more urban environment with paved surfaces all around.
Similarly, your furnace filter will clog up faster if you do any dust-generating home renovations. You may need to change the filter a few times during the renovation (depending on how long it takes). That doesn’t mean it will become your permanent filter change frequency.
Number of Pets
We all love our furry friends, but we all know we can’t escape the dander and fur they shed. You’ll need to change your furnace filter more frequently if you have one or more pets that shed moderate to large amounts of hair.
Presence of a Smoker
Smoking adds many contaminants to your indoor air. If you have a heavy smoker or two in your household, you will need to change your furnace filter more frequently.
Presence of Allergy Sufferers
People living with asthma or other allergies need clean, fresh air to avoid breathing difficulties. Changing the furnace filter will ensure the indoor air quality remains as high as it should be.
Overall Usage Frequency
If your furnace has to run longer cycles in colder weather, the filter will trap more dust, dirt, and other contaminants, requiring you to change it more frequently.
So, how often should you change the filter on your furnace with all the above in mind? The only correct answer is, “It depends.” All things being equal, you should change your fiberglass furnace filter every month. However, you can factor in any of the above considerations that affect you for a unique change frequency.
The Advantages of Changing Your Furnace Filter Regularly
Some of the advantages of changing your furnace’s filter regularly include the following:
Improved Efficiency
A dirty furnace filter will reduce the volume of air passing through the system. Thus, the furnace will end up working harder to compensate for the low air volume. A clean filter makes heating cycles less strenuous on your system.
As such, you should change the filters regularly if you want your furnace system to work efficiently over the coldest months of the year. This offers the cheapest way to increase the furnace’s efficiency.
Better Indoor Air Quality
A clogged furnace filter will not have any room left to trap contaminants. Some of the contaminants it already holds may also re-enter your indoor space. A clean furnace filter means much better indoor air quality.
Reduction in Allergy Symptoms
Any allergy sufferers in your home will breathe a lot easier if your furnace filter stays clean. A dirty air filter will worsen the severity of allergy symptoms, while a clean one can reduce the symptoms of asthma, COPD, and other respiratory issues overall.
Longer Equipment Lifespan
A dirty furnace filter unduly tasks the furnace system. When the furnace has to work too hard for every heating cycle, components will start to fail more often.
You’ll end up replacing the furnace prematurely. A clean furnace filter will reduce strain on the system, allowing you to get the most out of your investment.
Reduction in Energy Bills
A dirty furnace filter doesn’t just reduce its performance; it can also increase its energy consumption. This will show up in your energy bills. Keeping the filters clean can lower your energy bill by a significant sum every year.
Get Expert Guidance From Leith Heating & Cooling
Are you still asking, “How often should you change the filter on your furnace?” Do you need to set up a furnace replacement reminder or subscription service to ensure you never forget it again? Leith Heating & Cooling can help.
We provide fast and efficient furnace-related services to homeowners and businesses around you. So, whether you hear a whistling sound in your furnace or simply want a technician to install a new furnace filter, we’re the company to trust.
Call the Leith Heating & Cooling team in Elgin, Illinois, and the surrounding communities today at (847) 648-9977 to book an appointment.