Your furnace filter has the critical job of protecting your indoor air. It does this by trapping harmful particulates like dust mites, pet dander, bacteria, and more. That said, for your filter to effectively trap these particulates and filter your air, it needs to be changed regularly.
On average, it’s suggested that your furnace filter should be changed every three months. That said, when determining when to change furnace filters in your home, you are going to want to consider external factors like pets and allergies, as well as the type of filter you use.
After all, no two homes are the same, and there are various models of furnace filters on the market that require different types of maintenance.
According to The Lung Association, Canadians spent a total of 90 percent of their time indoors, so you’re going to want to be diligent about changing your furnace filter — for the sake of your indoor air quality.
These are the factors that will impact how often to change furnace filters:
The Average Home: Three Months
If you have an average home — that means no allergies, pets, or asthma — it’s advised that you change your filter every three months. This routine is sufficient as long as you don’t have any sensitivities to particulates, and no factors in your home generating more particulates.
Advice for Asthma Sufferers
Polluted air isn’t good for anyone to breathe in, as it can damage your lungs. That said, if someone in your family has asthma, breathing in this air can trigger asthma attacks and make breathing that much harder. For this reason, if someone in your home has asthma, you should be changing your furnace filter every six weeks.
If There are Smokers in Your Home: Monthly
Health Canada reports that when you smoke in your home, it releases toxins like volatile organic chemicals, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter into your indoor air. These toxins cause your furnace filter to work overtime to filter out all of these particulates.
If you smoke in your home, it’s essential to be diligent about changing your furnace filter every month. The more particulates in your air, the more things your filter will catch, and the more frequently it will need to be changed.
Considering Pets
If you have a cat or dog at home, you’re going to want to change your furnace filter every two months. This change is necessary because furnace filters work harder to collect pet dander and other allergens that your animals carry.
The more pets in your home, the more dander and allergens your furnace filter have to trap. If you want your filter to continue to trap these allergens, you need to make sure your furnace filter is replaced regularly.
If Anyone Has Allergies: 20 – 45 Days
Furnace filters effectively trap particulates like allergens to reduce allergy symptoms. That said, if anyone in your family has allergies, you’re going to want to make sure that your furnace filter gets changed at least once a month.
Protect your indoor air quality (and your health) by being diligent about replacing your furnace filters. Every filter and home is different, so be sure that you are considering all factors when determining how often to change your furnace filters.