How Long Does the Average Furnace Filter Last? A Comprehensive Guide

Change your filters regularly to ensure the best indoor air quality and optimal performance of your oven. For example, a one-inch oven filter should be changed every one to three months, while a three- to four-inch filter can last six to nine months. If you have a coarse filter that is five to six inches, it can last nine to twelve months. The general recommendation is that oven filters be replaced at least once every 90 days.

Usually, most air filter manufacturers and HVAC companies recommend changing your air filter every 90 days or 3 months. This may change depending on the location of your home (for example, dry and dusty climates), if you have pets, and the age of your system and equipment. If you have pets in the household, you should consider changing the filter every 60 days or 2 months, and for households with multiple pets or people with allergies or respiratory conditions, we recommend changing the filter every 20-45 days. Vacation homes or empty homes that don't see much use can wait to change filters every 9 to 12 months.

The general consensus is that the more you use your home, the more you need to change the air filter. If you're a pet owner, you'll want to change your air filter every 2 months, especially when winter turns to spring and summer to fall. How often this task should be performed largely depends on the type of furnace filter installed. Clogged filters not only adversely affect the air quality in a house, but also force the oven to work harder to draw air into the system and thus be able to shorten the life of the oven.

If you suffer from asthma or allergies at home, change the filter every 6 weeks to ensure the best indoor air quality. A general rule of thumb for pleated air filters (such as those manufactured by FilterBuy) is to replace the filter every 90 days. If you live in a temperate climate and only use your air conditioner or oven for a few hours a day, a filter could last the entire season or even a whole year. In addition, there are several factors specific to your home in the Cincinnati area that have a greater impact on how often you actually need a new filter.

Use a filter with a MERV rating of 12, such as the Nordic Pure Filter (available on Amazon), if your oven can handle it. No two houses are alike, so despite the guidelines, you may have to change your furnace filter more often than your neighbor. Because changing oven filters is so important, here are some strategies to make sure you remember to perform this essential home maintenance task: set reminders on your phone or calendar; mark it on your wall calendar; or enlist help from family members or roommates. The oven filter is used to clean the air of contaminants and dust just before the air enters the oven system.

In a large household, the change of furnace filters is done more often than in homes with only one or two occupants. Rather than going off the standard timeline, here are some special signs and considerations that will let you know when to change an oven filter: if it's clogged with dust; if it's discolored; if it's torn; if it's been in use for more than 90 days; if there's an increase in dust in your home; if there's an increase in allergies or respiratory issues; if there's an increase in energy bills; or if there's an increase in noise from your HVAC system.