How Often Should You Change Your Air Filter? A Minnesota Homeowner’s Guide

Changing your air filters can often come with conflicting advice. Should you change your air filter every 3 months, regardless of your home life, living arrangements, or health status? What happens really if you don't change your air filter regularly, and is this advice even relevant in Minnesota?

For the harsh and often extreme climate in Minnesota, general advice on changing air filters and the frequency of this task isn't applicable, and when you add in variables such as pets and allergies, as well as seasonal fluctuations, it's not hard to see why you might need to tweak the guidance to suit your home environment and needs. 

Let's take a look at how often Minnesota residents should change air filters and why.

Why Air Filters Matter for Minnesota Homes

Air filters are about more than just removing dust from your home; they deliver fresh air into the building, and a clean filter does all the heavy lifting.

Clean filters can:

  • Improve airflow efficiency to avoid your furnace working overtime
  • Increase indoor air quality, meaning there are fewer allergens and irritants in the air
  • Increase the lifespan of the HVAC system as a whole by reducing strain and avoiding it working over capacity

In Minnesota, when winter temperatures drop and summer temperatures push into the double digits, relying on your HVAC isn't a luxury; it's essential, and your air filters are instrumental in maintaining air quality, indoor comfort, and functionality.

How Often Should You Change Your Air Filters?

The general guidance to change air filters every 1-3 months isn't a universal rule; it's just a suggestion, as manufacturers recommend it based on typical usage. But in Minnesota, sometimes the environment veers past standard, meaning that changing your air filters every three months isn't practical or even a good idea. And there are many variables to consider when asking how often to change your air filter.

Seasonal Changes

In the summer, when your AC is running for longer, you need to change your filter regularly, and depending on usage, this could be as frequent as every month. This is due to your filters catching more dust and humidity buildup.

However, in winter, your filters will rely heavily on your furnace working longer hours, as the potential for accumulated lint and pet hair from the environment increases. Again, monthly changes can help you keep the air clear and reduce indoor irritants.

Pets

If you have pets in the home, you will need to change your filters more frequently. Changes should be made every 60 days; however, if you have multiple dogs or shedding breeds, you might want to do this monthly for peace of mind and to avoid added strain on the HVAC system.

Allergies

For those living with allergies, the buildup of debris and pollutants on the filter can exacerbate symptoms and make life uncomfortable. More frequent changes between 30 and 60 days are recommended for improved comfort at home.

Filter Type

This is where things get a little bit trickier. It's not just environmental factors that influence how often you change your air filter. It's the type of filters you use, too.

  • Basic fibreglass filters - an inexpensive filter,r but these need changing more regularly, typically on a monthly basis.
  • Pleated or High-Efficiency filter (MERV 8-13). These filters can last longer, but should be changed every 2-3 maximum for improved efficiency.
  • HEPA filter - these are longer-lasting filters and capture up to 99.99% of pollutants and irritants, but should be checked monthly and replaced when noticeable buildup is present.

Signs You Need to Change Your Air Filter

There will always be signs that you need to change your air filters, and for the most part, they will be noticeable.

  • Increase in energy usage: if your HVAC is using more energy than usual, you might need new filters.
  • Visible dirt - if you can see dirt on the filter itself, then it’s time to replace it
  • Increase allergy symptoms - if you're noticing flare-ups of allergy reactions that you don't usually experience at home, it might be that the filter is clogged and can't capture irritants.
  • Reduced airflow - if you're noticing airflow is restricted around your home, or there's uneven airflow, it might be a dirty filter obstructing airflow throughout the system and your home.

How Regular Servicing Helps Maintain HVAC Systems

At MD’s Heating and Cooling Services, we are here to advise homeowners on the best maintenance and upkeep for their HVAC systems. From changing air filters to the best air filters for Minnesota homes and HVAC maintenance. For those who want to ensure their HVAC is in full working order and their homes are comfortable year-round, we offer a range of Minnesota heating and air conditioning services for homeowners.