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How Often Should I Clean or Replace My AC Filter?

The safe and efficient operation of your air conditioning system depends on unrestricted air flow. And nothing can slow air flow down – or bring it to a grinding halt – like a dirty,clogged air conditioning filter. Same goes for your furnace, by the way.

How often you need to clean or replace it depends on several factors, including the following:

• How many hours a day does your system operate?
• Do you live in the city or the country?
• Does your house go for long periods without any occupants, like a vacation home?
• Do you have pets in your house and heavy traffic in your neighborhood?

The point being that if you live in an urban or suburban environment, have several family members who spend at least part of each day at home, have pets, etc., then you should be cleaning or replacing your 1”’ – 3” AC system filter at least bi-monthly.

If, on the other hand, your system gets less use, there are fewer people living at home, and there’s less polluted outdoor air making its way inside, you could go up to a year at time in between filter cleaning.

Of course, the safe and prudent move is to check your filter at least bi-monthly until you start getting used to how long it takes for dirt to accumulate to unacceptable and unhealthy levels.

Now, will that kind of DIY service take care of all your AC system’s air flow needs? Unfortunately not, especially since the filter isn’t the only system component responsible for smooth and dependable airflow. That’s why Messmer Mechanical encourages you to have your heating and cooling systems each professionally cleaned and inspected once a year so we can help keep it in top working order and at maximum energy efficiency.

If it’s been year or more since your last AC or furnace cleaning and inspection, we invite you to contact us today to schedule service.