Asked by: Kimberlie Valtierra
home and garden indoor environmental quality

How often should you change heat pump filters?

38
Most experts advise that homeowners change standard 1″ air filters once a month when their A/C, heat pump or furnace is used on a daily basis. When you run your HVAC equipment intermittently, you may be able to extend that time frame to perhaps once every six weeks or every two to three months.


Correspondingly, how often should you change your air filter in your home?

Here are averages that might help you know how often you should change the air filter at home:

  1. Vacation home or single occupant and no pets or allergies: every 6-12 months.
  2. "Average" suburban home without pets: every 90 days.
  3. Add a dog or cat: every 60 days.
  4. Add more than one pet or anyone has allergies: 20-45 days.

what happens if you don't change air filter in house? If you don't change your AC filter, it will begin to fail. It will no longer be able to filter the air properly, letting dust and contaminants get into the AC. That's why you can save about 15% each month on utilities if you change the AC filter each month during peak cooling season.

Hereof, what is the best filter for a heat pump?

Higher efficiency filters generally utilize pleated fabric media. In most residential heat pump systems a filter with a MERV rating between 8 and 12 is a good balance between filter efficiency and adequate airflow. During peak heating and cooling season, a 1″ heat pump filter should be changed monthly.

How often should you change your air filter in your truck?

Replacement Time Check your owner's manual; it should tell you when your air filter should be replaced. This is generally every 12,000 to 15,000 miles, depending on your vehicle. If you have driven more than that since the last time you replaced the air filter, it's probably time to get it changed.

Related Question Answers

Ginel Naubauer

Professional

How do you know if your air filter is dirty?

Common Signs of a Dirty Air Filter
  1. Air Filter Appears Dirty. The most obvious way to tell if an air filter is dirty is to check to see if it looks dirty!
  2. Reduced Fuel Economy.
  3. Misfiring Engine.
  4. Strange Engine Noises.
  5. Bad Spark Plugs.
  6. Check Engine Light On.
  7. Reduced Horsepower.
  8. Flames or Black Smoke from Exhaust Pipe.

Alishba Weisshaar

Professional

How do I know if my furnace filter is dirty?

5 Critical Signs That Your Furnace Filter Needs Replacement
  1. Your Bills Creep Up. If your bills have been cranking up, dirty and clogged filters might be the culprit.
  2. You're Getting Sick. Bad health can be associated with filthy furnace filters.
  3. You Notice a Burning Smell.
  4. Less Heat, Longer Runtime.
  5. Your Home is Dustier than Before.

Esmail Mundo

Professional

Why does my furnace filter get dirty so quickly?

A clogged filter can cause a variety of problems, including expensive breakdowns and system inefficiencies. If you've noticed that your HVAC filter is getting dirty more quickly than usual, it could be caused by one of the following issues: The thermostat has the fan setting in the “on” position constantly.

Paramjeet Rouet

Explainer

Do I need filters in my return vents?

The Case for a Return Duct Filter
Regular maintenance is certainly recommended, but adding a return air filter can help to block some of this incoming debris and ensure that the air coming in is clean. Clean air means a clean system.

Tiesha Geertsema

Explainer

How much does filter easy cost?

FilterEasy sells filters in 55 sizes and three levels of quality (MERV 8, 10 and 13) at prices ranging from $11.97-$19.97 per filter. Instead of paying a monthly fee, customers are only charged when their filters are shipped.

Eirik Navasa

Explainer

Can I run the AC without a filter?

Your air conditioner will run without a filter, but you shouldn't try it! Without a filter, you leave your system wide open to all types of dirt and debris that will damage the HVAC system and lead to expensive repairs.

Etha Mureiro

Pundit

What is the most common air filter size?

While there are no standard furnace filter sizes that will fit all models, the most common filter dimensions include:
  • 10 X 20.
  • 14 X 20.
  • 16 X 24.
  • 18 X 30.
  • 12 X 12.
  • 14 X 24.
  • 16 X 25.
  • 20 X 20.

Qiaoli Escarigo

Pundit

What is the best air filter for your home?

So here is my list of The 10 Best Furnace Filters.
  • AIRx Health 1" MERV 13 Furnace Filters.
  • Honeywell FC100A1037 Ultra Efficiency 4" Furnace Filters.
  • Nordic Pure 4" Furnace Filters.
  • FilterBuy 1" Furnace Filters.
  • AIRx ALLERGY 1" Furnace Filters.
  • Filtrete Micro Allergen 4" Furnace Filters.
  • X6673 Lennox 4" Furnace Filters.

Mateusz Rocktaschl

Pundit

What MERV rating should I use?

Most residential HVAC systems will use air filters with MERV ratings from 7-12. A higher MERV value of 5-16 would be recommended for commercial buildings. In general, filters with higher MERV ratings have smaller pores through which air can pass, while still capturing allergens.

Paulina Witting

Pundit

Is MERV 8 good enough?

MERV 5–8 (good): These filters are better at catching small particles (3–10 microns) like mold spores, hair spray, dust mites and animal dander. MERV 13–16 (best): These filters are usually only found in hospitals because they can capture particles as small as 1–0.03 microns in size.

Lerma Lueers

Pundit

Do Filtrete filters restrict airflow?

Because they restrict airflow to your HVAC system. Pleated, high-MERV filters definitely capture a lot of pollutants, but they also restrict the movement of air into your blower or furnace. These cover all the air filtration basics - dust and pollen removal, for example - without restricting airflow.

Johara Ortel

Teacher

Do heat pumps have filters that need to be changed?

Heat pump air filters should be changed at least twice a year. Air filters are an important part of a heat pump heating or cooling system. They remove dust and allergens before returning the cooled or heated air to your rooms.

Jiahao Yatsyk

Teacher

Does MERV 11 restrict airflow?

A decade ago, it used to be that if you had an HVAC system that used panel filters rated 6 through 9 MERV, putting in a MERV 11 or higher filter would restrict airflow (known as filter pressure drop). In turn, this would lengthen the system's run-time, adding to your heating and cooling costs.

Adonay Estebanell

Teacher

Are expensive air filters worth it?

More expensive filters like Pleated Residential filters filter out dust mites, pollen, mold and pet dander and even bacteria and so are worth the money especially for those with severe allergies. HEPA filters filter bacteria and viruses and are worth the extra money for those with respiratory conditions like emphysema.

Marge Berjano

Teacher

Are washable HVAC filters good?

Disposable air filters are more effective at trapping small particles. Washable air filters are typically only good at protecting from large particles like dust. They do not effectively filter out pet dander, bacteria, viruses or smoke, especially when they're not meticulously maintained.

Mubashir Botija

Reviewer

Are cheap furnace filters better?

Cheap fiberglass filters are designed to stop dust, debris and hair from gunking up the system. They are also pricier than basic fiberglass filters. While pleated filters will do a better job of cleaning the air than fiberglass, there are better options to clean the air efficiently without adding stress to the system.

Irlanda Allcock

Reviewer

How do you clean heat pump filters?

To clean your filters you will need to open the front panel of the indoor unit and remove the filters. You will see where to place your fingers when opening both ends. The filters slide out and once out you can take them outside and give them a spray wash with the garden hose or you can give them a light vacuum.

Marceliana Escayola

Reviewer

Can a dirty furnace filter cause a fire?

Risk of a Ventilation Fire
In extreme cases, a dirty air filter may become so clogged that the filter itself becomes sucked into the system, compromising air flow through the filter. This situation poses a serious fire hazard and can cause extreme damage to your HVAC unit and your home.

Loredana Dirnhofer

Reviewer

Do you have to turn off furnace to change filter?

To Change Your Home Air Filter, You'll Need To Turn Off Your Furnace. To prevent the HVAC unit from turning on while you are changing the filter, make sure you turn the thermostat to the “off” position. For maximum safety, disconnect power from your furnace system while you are doing maintenance.

Co-Authored By:

EveryThingWhat Staff Editor

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16th June, 2020

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