How Often Do You Need to Change Your Furnace Filter

Your furnace filter protects you from dust, pet dander, and airborne contaminants. It also helps you avoid an unexpected furnace repair. When you change the filter regularly, and on schedule, it helps prolong the life of your furnace and boosts indoor air quality for better breathing. Many homeowners believe changing it every three months is enough. However, that may be different for you. Read on to learn more about how often you need to change your furnace filter to avoid a preventable furnace repair service.

How Often Should I Change My Furnace Filter?

Your furnace filter has an important job in order to help your HVAC system stay in tip-top shape and avoid an unexpected furnace repair service call. It collects particles in the air, such as dust, hair, and other bits floating around. If you forget to change it for several months, you can restrict the airflow to your furnace. This means you’re breathing in all that gunk and could even warrant a furnace repair because it’s working twice as hard to pump air through your home.

The rule of thumb is to change your furnace filter every three months. Truthfully, you should be checking it every 30 days. How fast the filter gets dirty depends on various factors, such as who lives in your home and what season you’re in.

Signs You Should Change Your Furnace Filter More Often

Your neighbour may only have to change their furnace filter every three months, but if your home is filled with kids and pets, you should change it every 30 days. No two homes are the same. Some may have to change it more frequently than others to avoid a furnace repair service call on a cold Calgary winter weekend.

You have more dust than usual.

If you’ve noticed that your house has more dust landing on surfaces or floating through the air, this means you should change it more often. Otherwise, the filter will begin to clog, and you’ll breathe in all that dust. If you’ve recently renovated, replacing the filter is a good idea since it often causes more dirt and debris.

You have pets.

Our furry friends make an impact on our furnace filters. Even if they don’t shed often, it’s a good idea to take this into consideration for your maintenance schedule. This is especially true if they go outside, as they’ll be tracking in more dirt, pollen, and other outside contaminants. If anyone in your household has 4 paws, it’s a good idea to change the filter every 30 days.

You have a big family.

Your family size, home size, and family habits will affect your furnace filter. If anyone is a smoker, you’ll have to change the filter more frequently, even if they’re not smoking inside the home. The particles stick to their skin, hair and clothes, which means particles make their way into your home either way.

If you have a family of more than three or have guests over often, you’ll also have more work ahead for your furnace filter and should change it every 30 days. For any seasonal or vacation homes, you won’t have to change it as often.

Someone has allergies.

If anyone in your home is sensitive to dust, suffering from asthma, or has allergies, changing your furnace filter more often can help with the symptoms. You can also invest in a higher-quality air filter to help reduce allergens for better breathing.

The change of seasons.

In Calgary, we have significant fluctuations in our temperature throughout the year. We may not turn our furnace on in the mid-spring or early Fall, but we’ll have the air conditioner blasting from July-August and rely on our heat from November-March. The air filter will become dirty faster when you use your furnace more frequently. When it’s being used more often, that’s a sign to check the filter every 30 days for the best performance.

Time flies – before you know it, you’re heading into another new year. It can be easy to forget about the furnace filter with your never-ending list of to-dos. However, as you’ve learned, it’s crucial to avoid a furnace repair service call that could’ve been prevented with better maintenance. Here are a few things you can do to help stay on track:

• Put a reminder in your calendar or planner to check it every 30 days, even if you think it can last longer. There’s no harm in checking.
• Book yourself a maintenance day every month. Include tasks like cleaning the fridge, wiping the baseboards, and checking your furnace filter.
• Get a noisy alarm on your phone that won’t be easy to miss, like another notification you quickly swipe away.

Changing your air filter frequently is crucial so you can enjoy better air quality and a longer lifespan for your furnace. Another essential task is your yearly maintenance check-up to ensure everything is working properly and look out for potential problems. This will help you avoid an emergency furnace repair on an inconvenient chilly day. Contact our friendly technicians to book your inspection.

How often do you change your furnace filter? Did you realize you need to change it more frequently due to home habits or pets? Share your experience in the comments below.