How Often to Change Your Furnace Filter

By: Heather Kolich & Austin Henderson  | 
Clean air filter on the left vs. one covered in dust and hair on the right
The filter on the left is clean and new. If your air system is working properly, then your filter will look like the dirty, used one on the right. Douglas Sacha / Getty Images

Clean furnace filters save energy and money, plain and simple. Routinely changing or cleaning the furnace filters from your home's heating and air conditioning system helps the units run more efficiently and enjoy a longer lifespan (plus, it also improves your indoor air quality).

But how often should you change furnace filters, and what should you do if they look clean when it's time to replace them? What do these filters really do? How can you tell if they're working?

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What Is the Purpose of Furnace Filters?

To change the temperature in your home, your heating and air-conditioning system sucks in air from a room, pulls it over coils to heat or chill it, then blows the tempered air through ducts to the other rooms in your home. The furnace filter, or air filter, is stationed at the point where air is pulled into the system.

It traps airborne particles that get sucked in with the air and keeps them from blocking the blower and clogging up the coils. Clogged coils can't heat or cool the air passing over them, and they may damage the system.

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So, the furnace filter helps your heating and cooling system do its job, keeps it running efficiently and protects it so it will last longer.

A properly sized, installed and functioning heating and air system circulates the air in your home every hour. In the process, it pulls that air through the filter. Just how much the filter cleans the air depends on the MERV rating of the filter.

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Understanding MERV Ratings

MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. MERV ratings indicate the size of particles that a filter can remove from the air passing through it. MERVs range from 1 to 16, with a higher number indicating a higher cleaning efficiency because it can filter smaller particles out of the air.

Most filters will state the MERV rating on the packaging. It indicates the size of particles, measured in microns, which a filter will capture. The higher the MERV rating is, the smaller the particle it can grab. To give you an idea of particle size [sources: INDA, Howarth and Reid]:

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  • A human hair is around 60 to 75 microns.
  • Airborne dust particles range between 0.5 to 5 microns.
  • Pollen can be as big as 100 microns or as small as 10 microns.
  • Smoke carries particles as small as 0.3 microns.

The cheap, 1-inch (2.54-centimeter) thick, disposable filters made of jumbled fiberglass or natural fiber strands typically have a MERV rating of 1 but can go up to 4.

Percentage of Particles Filtered

The MERV rating also indicates the percentage of particles the filter will remove from the air passing through it.

In general, a MERV rating of 6 indicates that the filter will capture up to half of the particles in the air; a filter with a rating of 8 will trap 70 to 85 percent of airborne particles it encounters.

A rating of 11 or higher means that the air passing through the filter is up to 95 percent cleaner when it comes out of the filter than it was when it went into it.

Pleated Filters

Pleated filters made of nonwoven, disposable fabric have smaller pores, and the pleats increase the surface area of the filter so it can hold more particles than a flat surface can.

These filters have MERV ratings of 3 and higher depending on the density of the fabric and the number of pleats [source: INDA]. Some are charged with static electricity to attract and hold airborne allergens.

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Filter Efficiency and Air System Performance

The particle catching efficiency actually goes up as the filter gets dirty; buildup on the fibers shrinks the openings the air passes through and allows the filter to capture more particles.

But this is good only up to a certain point. The particle-removing efficiency of the dirty filter is inversely related to the energy efficiency of your heating and air system. A byproduct of cleaning the air is a restriction of the air-flow through the system.

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Think about times you've worn a dust mask while you worked on a project. It's harder to breathe through the mask than it is if you aren't wearing one.

If you upgrade to the HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) mask that filters out particles as small as 0.3 microns with up to 97 percent efficiency, it gets even harder to pull in enough air to keep you going [source: Howarth and Reid].

The same is true of your heating and air system: The denser the filter, the harder the system has to work to pull in air. A clogged filter may cause your system to run continuously, driving up your heating or cooling bills.

That's why it's important to check your filters at least monthly and change them when they get dirty.

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What if My Furnace Filter Looks Clean When It’s Time to Change It?

According to Freddie Williams, an instructor of air-conditioning technology at Lanier Technical College in Oakwood, Ga., high-grade filters are the most efficient way to clean the air in your home. But what do they look like when they've done their job?

When it's time to change your filter — anywhere from one to three months after you installed a fresh one — it should look dirty.

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"A build-up of dust is usually apparent," Williams said. "There should be gray, ashy-looking material on the duct side of the filter."

If your filter looks clean after it's been in place for the recommended time, here are some things you should check:

  1. Does the filter fit properly into the holder? If the filter is loose or too small for the space, the air can circulate around it instead of going through it. Measure the filter space and purchase a filter that fits snugly.
  2. Is the filter installed upside down? There is a correct air-flow direction for most furnace filters. Look for arrows on the filter frame, and install the filter so that the arrows point toward the fan.
  3. Is the filter you're using right for the job you want it to do? If you're using a low-end filter, it's not going to catch much dust. Upgrade to a filter with a higher MERV rating to increase the air cleaning efficiency.
  4. Check your rate of air exchange. According to Williams, if your system is functioning properly, it should run for about 15 minutes per cycle, with a cycle rate of not more than three in an hour. If it runs shorter cycles, it isn't creating the desired rate of air exchange. Call an HVAC professional and get your system checked.

Your home environment and how often you run the heat or air can also affect how quickly your furnace filter gets dirty.

If your home is well sealed, you have no pets, no dust-prone furnishings like carpet and fabric-covered furniture, and you dust and vacuum every day, your furnace filters will have fewer airborne particles to collect. Also, the system only filters the air when it's running.

If you install a new filter but don't turn on the heat or air conditioning until a month or two later, the filter should still be relatively clean since the system hasn't been forcing air through it.

This article was updated in conjunction with AI technology, then fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.

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Air Conditioner Filter FAQs

How often should you change your HVAC filter?
As a standard rule, it’s time to change your furnace filter anywhere from one to three months after you installed it. Signs that you should change your furnace filter include a buildup of dust and gray, ashy-looking material on the duct side of the filter.
What is an HVAC filter?
An HVAC filter is an important part of your home's heating and cooling system. These filters trap airborne particles that get sucked in with the air and prevent them from blocking the blower and clogging up the coils. The primary purpose of the furnace filter is to help your HVAC do its job, keeping it running efficiently and protecting it so it will last longer.
What MERV rating air filter should I use?
The minimum efficiency reporting value, or MERV, is an industry-standard rating to help consumers understand how well a furnace filter cleans the air passing through it. A MERV rating of 6 indicates that the basic filter will capture up to half of the particles in the air, and a rating of 11 or higher indicates that the air filter will capture up to 95 percent of the particles in the air.
Where is the HVAC filter located?
The HVAC air filter is located at the point where the air is pulled into the air conditioning or heating system. Your HVAC then pulls it over coils to heat or chill it, then blows the tempered air through ducts to the other rooms in your home.
What happens if you don't replace the HVAC filter?
If the air filters are not replaced regularly, they eventually become so clogged that air cannot pass through them. Clogged filters and coils prevent the air from heating or cooling. They also damage your HVAC system and increase your energy costs.

Lots More Information

Related HowStuffWorks Articles

  • Autry, James A. and Gerald M. Knox, eds. Better Homes and Gardens Complete Guide to Home Repair, Maintenance & Improvement. Des Moines, IA: Meredith Corporation, 1980.
  • Barnett, Dwight. "Low Air Pressure and Dust." Home & Garden Television. 2009 (Accessed 4/27/2009). http://www.hgtv.com/home-improvement/low-air-pressure-and-dust/index.html
  • Brumbaugh, James E. Audel® Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning Library, Volume 1. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1986.
  • Furnace Compare. "Frequently Asked Questions about Furnace Filters." Furnace and Air Conditioner Filters. 2009 (Accessed 4/27/2009). http://www.furnacecompare.com/faq/furnace_filter_faq.html
  • Home & Garden Television. "Keep Dust Down." Home Improvement. 2009 (Accessed 4/27/2009). http://www.hgtv.com/home-improvement/keep-dust-down/index.html
  • Home & Garden Television. "Spring Cleanup List Begins with HVAC." Home Improvement. 2009 (Accessed 4/27/2009). http://www.hgtv.com/home-improvement/hvac-a-spring-fix-up-checklist/index.html
  • Howarth, Peter and Anita Reid. Allergy-Free Living. Great Britain: Mitchell Beazley, 2000.
  • Huber, Jeanne. "The Dirt on Furnace Filters." The Washington Post, January 19, 2006. (Accessed 04/27/2009). http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/18/AR2006011800470.html
  • INDA. "Air Filters for Your Home." International Nonwovens & Disposables Association. 2009 (Accessed 4/27/2009). http://www.inda.org/enduses/homefilters/index.html
  • Lowe's. "Choosing a Home Air Filter." Buying Guides. 2009 (Accessed 4/27/2009). http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=howTo&p=BuyGuide/ChooseFurnaceFilter.html
  • Williams, Freddie. Instructor of Air Conditioning Technology, Lanier Technical College, Oakwood, Georgia. Interview, May 5, 2009.

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