How Often Should You Change Your 20x20x1 Air Filter?

The only way to be sure how often your air filter should be changed is to visually inspect it every month. After a few months, you'll get an idea of how quickly it gets dirty and need to re-evaluate if you have a new pet or if the outdoor air quality has been poor. For basic air filters from 1 to 3, brands usually recommend that you change them every 30 to 90 days. If someone in your family has mild to moderate allergies, you can use a better air filter or change it more often.

The general recommendation is that oven filters be changed at least once every 90 days. It's important to remember that the only way to know if you really need to change the filter is to check it once a month. If you or a family member has a history of allergies or asthma, plan to change your filter once a month, following recommendations from medical associations, including the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. When air filters don't change, dust, pollen, dirt, and other contaminants accumulate and decrease filter efficiency.

For every dog that loses hair, expect to replace the filter a month earlier than you would in a pet-free home. When you buy a new air filter, you'll find the manufacturer's recommendations for the replacement program. You may not have realized that the boiler filter needs to be changed because not all air conditioning systems need heating, ventilation and air conditioning filters. Long-term costs include more frequent repairs and the need to replace the furnace or the entire HVAC system sooner than expected. The truth is that this is a very simple DIY job, and it only takes a minute to evaluate if the filter needs to be changed.

However, if you use your air conditioning system almost constantly or live in a big city with poor air quality, you'll have to change the filter more often. It is generally recommended that residential air filters be changed every 30 days if regular fiberglass filters are used. If you live in a big city with poor air quality, pollutants such as smoke, dust, and other debris will seep inside and clog the air filter at a much faster rate. This will result in inadequate filtration and the entry of pollutants into your home air. Even if you live in a temperate climate with excellent air quality, there's another important reason to change your boiler filter as recommended.

If you constantly heat or cool your home and use fiberglass filters, you may need to change them once a month. Your specific situation is unique, but most air filtration experts agree that furnace filters have an overall lifespan. It's essential for homeowners to understand how often they should replace their 20x20x1 air filters. The best way to determine this is by visually inspecting them each month and taking into account any changes in their environment such as new pets or poor outdoor air quality. Generally speaking, basic air filters should be changed every 30-90 days while oven filters should be changed at least once every 90 days.

Those with allergies or asthma should plan on changing their filter once a month following recommendations from medical associations such as the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. If you live in an area with poor air quality or use your air conditioning system almost constantly then it's important to change your filter more often than recommended - usually every 30 days for residential fiberglass filters. Not changing your filter regularly can lead to decreased efficiency and allow pollutants into your home air which can cause health issues over time. It's important for homeowners to understand how often they should replace their 20x20x1 air filters in order to maintain good indoor air quality and prevent costly repairs down the line.

Catherine Plessner
Catherine Plessner

Devoted bacon trailblazer. Subtly charming burrito aficionado. Infuriatingly humble coffee advocate. Certified foodaholic. Incurable sushi guru. Award-winning travel lover.