How Often Should You Change Your Air Filter?

Learn how often should you change your car's air filter as part of routine vehicle maintenance and get tips on how to maintain it.

How Often Should You Change Your Air Filter?

You should check your car's air filter at least once a year. Many people choose to change the filter right away, but some mechanics suggest that an air filter can last anywhere from 15,000 to 30,000 miles. Depending on how much you drive, you may not reach those numbers in a year. The only way to know for sure how often you need to change your air filter is to perform a visual inspection of the filter every month.

After a few months, you'll get an idea of how quickly it gets dirty. You may need to re-evaluate if you have a new pet or if the outdoor air quality has been poor. Expanding your automotive knowledge is easy with our tips and suggestions. This is a practical, functional and surprisingly great gift.

Here are some tips and suggestions on how to keep your life running smoothly, at least when it comes to getting from point A to points B, C, D and E. Jiffy Lube has the vehicle maintenance tips you need to keep you on the road. Everyone has questions when it comes to preventive maintenance. Access all the information you need about your vehicle, all on your mobile device.

Get service quotes quickly, find service recommendations, and access current and past services for your vehicle. Allow your local Jiffy Lube equipment to provide routine preventive maintenance to help keep your car, SUV, minivan or truck running as designed. This way, a small problem can be corrected before it becomes a costly repair. Now that you know how often to change the car's air filter, what about the cabin filter? Here's an article that tells you what you need to do and how to maintain it.

In addition to blog posts, Tips in a Jiffy also has videos with car care tips. In general, most air filter manufacturers and HVAC companies recommend changing your air filter every 90 days or 3 months. That may change depending on the location of your home (e.g., dry and dusty climates), if you have pets and the age of your system and equipment. If you have pets in the house, 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.

Usually, vacation homes or vacant homes that don't have much use can expect to change filters every 9-12 months. The general consensus is that the more you use your home, the more often you need to change the air filter. The ideal is to change your air filter every three months; however, there are certain factors to consider when determining when to change an old filter. As a general rule of thumb, most average drivers should be able to go a year or two before needing a new air filter.

The easiest way to know for sure how often to change your engine air filter is to consult the maintenance section of the owner's manual or simply Google the manufacturer's recommended service interval. Using an air filter with a MERV rating higher than recommended by the manufacturer of your oven or air conditioner may impair its performance. If you answer yes to any of the following questions, you may want to replace the filter more often than recommended: Do I have pets in my home? Is my home located in a dry and dusty climate? Is my HVAC system older than five years? Do I use my home frequently? It is important to note that an air filter is not used to purify the air you breathe; rather it is used to protect the sensitive components of your HVAC system. The only type of filters that trap allergens and spores are HEPA, or high-energy particulate air filters.

According to the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), this filtration helps provide healthier indoor air quality. Consider all of these factors when determining a replacement program and deciding what type and quality of filter you should use. If you answer yes to any of these questions, then you'll want to change your filter every 6 weeks in order to maintain the best indoor air quality possible. Like vehicle air filters, cabin air filters should also be changed regularly as part of routine vehicle maintenance; however, many homeowners are unaware of how often air filters need to be replaced, making their system vulnerable to damage.

A dirty engine air filter will usually look dirty with dirt, dust or stains visible inside the folds. On the other hand, if you use your HVAC system almost constantly then you'll need to change the filter every few weeks (especially if you use fiberglass filters). And if you purchase an older system then plan on replacing the filter more often in order to maintain its quality. A vacation home where you only live part-time will need far fewer filter changes than a large family home with numerous occupants; outdoor air quality can also have a big impact on how often an air filter becomes dirty and needs replacing.

Sophia Walker
Sophia Walker

Tvaholic. Friendly pop culture expert. Friendly beer lover. General pop culture geek. Wannabe internet advocate. Lifelong music enthusiast.

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