AC Maintenance
How Often Should You Change Your Air Filter?
2026-08-09 3 min readBy Launch Air & Heating
The simplest, cheapest way to protect your AC — and one most homeowners get wrong. Here's the real answer.
How Often to Change Your Air Filter
The air filter is your AC's first line of defense — and the most neglected.
The general rule
- 1-inch filters: every 1-2 months
- Pleated 4-5 inch filters: every 3-6 months
- Homes with pets or allergies: more often
Why it matters
A clogged filter restricts airflow, freezes coils, raises bills, and shortens equipment life. In Florida, systems run nearly year-round, so filters load up faster.
Set a reminder
Check yours monthly. If you can't see the filter material through the dust, replace it.