How often should I change my filter?

This is a subject that has many answers depending on who you ask. The general consensus says you should change them once a month, but this simply is not true. We change our filters every time we can visually see any signs of dirt on them at all. Now before you scream at how expensive that could be, let us also tell you that if you are spending more than $5 for each filter you buy, then you are not only wasting your money, but you are damaging your unit as well.

Air flow is tremendously important in an HVAC system and there are several things that can cause the airflow to be compromised. One way to compromise air flow is with a dirty filter, and another way is with an expensive filter that blocks the air from flowing freely. Now that that is cleared up, how often should you change your filter?

Put a new (inexpensive) filter in each of your return grills. Mark the date of installation clearly on the edge of the filters. Periodically (at least once a week) check them for signs of any dirt at all. When your filter does not look like a brand new filter any longer, it is time to change it out. With the installation date on the filters, you will now know how often to change your filters.

Again, we only buy the cheapest filters we can find because we clean our coils every year, and expensive filters will damage a HVAC system . This is a standard cleaning that comes with every maintenance agreement. At my home, I (John Mark, owner of Jackson Air) change my filters every two weeks. I have a new home that has a lot of construction dust in it and I have to change my filters that often. You may have to change your filters every week or every two months. It will all depend on how much dirt is circulating through your home.