4 Ways to Make Your Air Filters Last Longer

The air quality in your home plays a key role in the overall comfort and cleanliness of your space. Did you know that indoor air quality is worse than most people realize? Indoor concentrations of pollutants can range between 2 - 100x greater than outdoor concentrations.

There is a range of factors that impact air quality including ventilation, airflow, humidity, and temperature. Dust, mold, pesticides, and cleaning supplies can also contribute to poor air quality.

Air filters are used to improve your air quality by collecting and capturing harmful contaminants. Using air filters properly will reduce issues with allergies and asthma and can even improve your concentration, productivity, and overall happiness.

But what can you do to save time and money on filters?

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1. Use the Right Air Filters

The stronger the air filter - the longer it will last.

Fiberglass filters are designed to remove larger particulate from the air, such as lint and pet hair. Fiberglass air filters have a low resistance to airflow of air, which makes them popular in residential homes.

Pleated air filters are built with the filter media folded into a 1" frame to provide more surface area. They can use high-efficiency media without negatively affecting the resistance to airflow.

If you're looking for a step up from a basic fiberglass filter, pleated air filters are an excellent choice and offer more protection against dust, bacteria, and other small contaminants.

2. Switch To Pleated Filters

Fiberglass air filters will get the job done, but in most cases, pleated air filters are much better. Pleated air filters capture smaller particles and are less likely to clog within a short period of time.

Pleated filters may also be biodegradable or recyclable, making them more sustainable and because they have deeper pleats, they offer more surface area to filter airborne particulate.

3. Change Your Filters Regularly

It's recommended that residential air filters are changed every 30 days when using regular fiberglass filters. Pleated air filters last 3 months before needing to be replaced. When air filters go unchanged, dust, pollen, dirt, and other contaminants accumulate and decrease the filter efficiency.

It's also important to consider air filter changes based on your household. Is it a vacation home? Do you live in a highly polluted area? Does anyone suffer from allergies or asthma? Do you have any pets? Do younger children live in your home?

These considerations will determine if you need to change your air filters more frequently or less frequently.

4. Use Your HVAC System Based on Weather

Anytime your HVAC system is operating, the air filters are working to capture and remove harmful particulate. If you live in a warm temperature region where you only use your AC or furnace for a few hours a day or a handful of times within a season - your air filter will last longer.

If you're running your HVAC system regularly, you will also need to change your filters regularly, this is because there is more air being drawn through the filter and it will clog more quickly.

Learning how to extend the life of your air filters doesn't just save money on replacement costs – it also ensures high quality indoor air and an HVAC system that operates efficiently. By following the strategies above, you can take full advantage of the benefits of clean air without frequent filter changes.

Get in touch with us to learn more about how you can benefit from Purolator Air Filters or for help deciding which filter best meets your commercial or residential needs.