Living in Florida, where air conditioners are running all day, every day, it is important to check and replace the filter every 30 days. This is the general recommendation from most air filter manufacturers and HVAC companies, but this can vary depending on the location of your home, if you have pets, and the age of your system and equipment. If you have pets at home, it is best to change the filter every 60 days or 2 months. For homes with several pets or people with allergies or respiratory conditions, it is recommended to change the filter every 20 to 45 days.
Vacation homes or empty houses that don't get much use usually wait to change the filters every 9 to 12 months. The more you use your home, the more often you should change the air filter. The air conditioning filter protects the internal mechanics of the air conditioning system from dirt and debris, such as dead skin cells. Between maintenance visits, it is important to check the air filter every 30 days, especially during Florida's hot summer months when the air conditioning system is used more frequently.
