The cost of changing air conditioning (AC) filters depends on the type of car you drive and the auto repair shop you visit. Mobile mechanics are a great option as they don't have the overhead costs of repair shops and can come to your home or office for convenience. To extend the life of your filter, you can improve indoor air quality by using a vent while cooking, not smoking in the house, and other measures. How often you need to replace your filter depends on many factors, such as the number of people and pets in your home, the type of filter, how often your HVAC system runs, and other air quality issues in your home.
The frequency of filter change will depend on the filter manufacturer's recommendations, its efficiency, the use of the HVAC system, and the characteristics of the household. The AC air filter is essential for filtering out potentially harmful particles like dust, dirt, pollen, and more from cabin air. It also ensures a constant supply of clean air. If left for too long, bacteria that remain even after replacing the filter will still leave a noticeable odor. Not replacing the filter and continuing to operate heating and cooling systems with a dirty filter can cause serious problems with system performance. The equipment owner's manual should provide information about the filter size, but often the quickest and easiest way to determine the correct replacement air filter size is to look at the existing filter.
If you search online for a filter for an “exclusive brand” such as BMW, you will see that more expensive filter replacements appear first. There are many different air filter replacements available for purchase through HVAC contractors or at your local hardware store. If there is a lot of sand or dust in the air, such as a beach or desert, you'll need to replace the filter more often than recommended. Air filter manufacturers offer recommendations on how often an air filter should be replaced. Because air is constantly flowing through the home's heating and cooling system, the filter becomes clogged over time and needs to be replaced.
Many people choose to change the filter right away, but some mechanics say an air filter can last 15,000 to 30,000 miles. When you stop by a shop for an automatic overhaul, you probably won't think about replacing your engine's air filter. There are many replacement sizes of air filters available; the size you need depends on your HVAC system.
