A question often asked is, how often should an air conditioner or furnace air filter be changed? There is no exact answer to this because there are so many different attributes to take into account. Not all filters are the same technology, method or size. Also, it depends what size home you have and different attributes your family may have.
Some filters are washable, for instance – electronic air filters that have fin type sections can be washed by hand or even sometimes in your dishwasher and should be done every 3 to 4 months. If your air purifier uses media filters, then you may also be able to wash them out or vacuum them several times before having to replace completely. It is a general rule for standard one inch media filter should be checked once a month and changed every 3 months. Larger box filters can last anywhere from 6 to 12 months.
Again, these are just general guidelines and you may find you need to adjust times and methods of changing your air filter depending on your family’s needs. Some reasons you may want to clean/wash or change your air filter more often are if your home contains smokers, if someone in your home has mild to severe allergies, if air is circulating through the air filter more often than other homes.
