“How Often Should I Change My A/C’s Air Filter?” It Depends on This Factor

Typically, you’ll hear “Once a month” or “Once every 3 months.”

So, which is it?

The frequency you should change your air filter depends heavily on this one factor: the weather.

Why the weather is so important

Think about it like this: when it’s scorching hot in the summer, you’re running your air conditioner constantly. That means more air is flowing through the filter and it’s catching more dust, dirt, and debris. Therefore, you’ll need to change the air filter more often.

But in winter you rarely run your A/C. So, there’s no reason to dogmatically check the air filter once a month.

Seasonal rule of thumbs for the Sarasota, Florida area

Use these 2 rules of thumb to keep track of when to check your air filter in Florida.

Spring+Summer+Fall:

Once a month

Winter:

Once every 3 months

OK, maybe we lied

I know we said when to change your air filter only depends on the weather, but we fibbed. The rule of thumb we give applies to cheaper fiberglass filters.

If you use pleated air filters, they’ll last much longer. And the thicker the pleated filter, the longer it will last. But pleated filters are also more expensive.

We’ve covered the pros and cons of using a pleated air filter vs a fiberglass air filter here.

Need help deciding?

Not sure on the type of filter you need? Talk to one of our air filter experts at Filters Today, a division of Cool Today.

Cool Today provides award-winning air conditioning service to Sarasota, Florida, and the surrounding areas like Bradenton, Tampa, and Port Charlotte. If you have any questions, talk to one of our experts for help.

Posted in: Tips