When it comes to furnace filters, the general consensus among HVAC professionals is that they should be replaced every 90 days or 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. Thomas & Galbraith Heating, Cooling and Plumbing of Ohio recommends changing filters less than 2 inches thick every 30 to 90 days.
A three- or four-inch filter can last between six and nine months, while a five- to six-inch coarse-grained filter can last up to twelve months. If you have a filter larger than 5 or 6 inches, it should be changed every nine to twelve months. Thicker air filters may seem better because they have more surface area to capture and retain air particles, but they should still be changed regularly. If you use a professional heating company to maintain your furnace, they will make sure that the right size filter is installed.
However, they may not know that the filter needs to be changed at regular intervals. The main purpose of an oven filter is to trap airborne contaminants and keep them out of the heating and cooling system.If you have air quality problems in your home, your furnace filter won't last as long as it would in a home with good indoor air quality. Choose the thickest air filter you can for maximum efficiency, but never try to force an air filter into a space it's not designed for. On the other hand, you can certainly use a one-inch filter in compartments designed for deeper filters. If you don't change your oven filter regularly, you may end up with an oven that doesn't work as efficiently and is likely to have a shorter lifespan.
A higher rating is obtained when a filter is four or five inches thick, because these filters trap extremely small contaminating particles. If your household members suffer from allergies or asthma, you should change your oven filters more often. As an expert in HVAC systems and furnace filters, I recommend changing your four-inch furnace filter every six to nine months. This will ensure that your furnace is running efficiently and that your home has good indoor air quality. If you have allergies or asthma in your household, then you should change your filter more often.
