How Long Does a HEPA Filter Last? + How to Change It

If you suffer from airborne allergies or have dust, pet hair and dander, or pollen in your home, an air purifier with a HEPA filter can reduce allergen levels and improve your symptoms. But once you have the HEPA filter installed, it does need some regular maintenance to keep it in peak shape. How long does a HEPA filter last? How often should you change your air purifier filter? Find out here.

What Is a HEPA Filter?

A HEPA filter is a filter that removes certain kinds of tiny particles from the air. HEPA stands for “high-efficiency particulate air.” This refers to the fact that HEPA filters are highly efficient at removing airborne particles. In fact, true HEPA filters remove at least 99.97% of all airborne particles. This includes:

• Dust and dust mites
• Pet dander
• Pollen
• Tobacco smoke
• Mold
• Bacteria
• Some viruses

Standard mechanical filters are made of thin sheets of cotton or polyester. The fibers trap particles as air is forced through the filter. HEPA filters are different in two ways:

1. They’re made from a mixture of glass fibers and activated carbon, which is more effective at trapping particles than cotton or polyester.
2. The glass-carbon sheets are pleated, which gives each filter more surface area to trap particles.

How Long Does a HEPA Filter Last?

No matter what kind of filter you use on your air purifier, it needs to be replaced every so often. This is important because as the filter traps more and more particles, it becomes less efficient at keeping the air clean. Eventually, the filter will get “full” enough that it stops working. If you notice that your home seems dustier or your allergy symptoms suddenly start getting worse, check your air purifier filter. It could be it’s time to replace it with a new one.

HEPA filters for home use with a portable air purifier or central AC should be changed every 6 to 12 months. However, how long a HEPA filter lasts depends on a few variables. Your HEPA filter may need to be replaced more often in some circumstances.

Indoor air quality: What your default air quality is like indoors is important. If you have pets or your air quality is affected by a high pollen count or wildfire smoke, your air purifier has more work to do. That can mean your HEPA filter needs to be replaced more often.

Run time: The more you use the air purifier, the sooner the filter will need replacing. For instance, some manufacturers recommend replacing air filters after 10,000 hours of use. If you run your air purifier 24/7, it will need a replacement filter sooner than if you only run it 8 hours a day.

Filter change indicators: Some new air purifiers have a filter change indicator. This is either a light or a warning beep that activates when the filter needs to be changed, making it very easy to know how often to change your air purifier filter. If you have a new filter handy, you can change it right away. 

How to Change Your HEPA Filter

For a Portable Air Purifier

1. Turn off and unplug the air purifier.
2. Remove the front or side casing to expose the HEPA filter.
3. Remove the filter from the purifier. Most filters have a set of tabs that you pull on to ease the filter out of the casing.
4. Place the new HEPA filter into the casing. Make sure to line up the air flow indicators so the filter is oriented in the right direction.
5. Replace the front or side casing to close up the unit.

For Central Air Conditioning

Start by locating the filter. Most filters are in a return air duct or near the system’s air handler. If your HVAC system combines AC and central heating, the filter might be near the furnace blower. If you don’t already know what kind of replacement filter you need, check the existing one to be sure.

Once you have a replacement filter in hand, go ahead with the next steps:

1. Turn off the power to your central AC. To do this, turn off your air conditioner first. Then turn off the power at the unit and the circuit breaker.
2. Remove the old HEPA filter. If it doesn’t slide out easily, check if there are screws or fasteners holding it in place, and remove those first.
3. Slide the new filter into its slot. Make sure the air flow indicators are lined up correctly, so the filter is facing the right direction. For most central AC systems, this means lining it up so the arrow is pointed toward the air conditioner air handler.
4. Reattach any screws or fasteners.
5. Turn the power back on.

When to Call an Expert for Help

If you run into any trouble when changing your HEPA filter, it’s best to turn to a professional HVAC expert for advice. This way you can be sure that your air purifier is working correctly to clean your air and improve indoor air quality.

You may need help if:

You’re not sure where the filter is located. If you can’t find it, you can’t change it! Instead of going crazy trying to find the filter, call an HVAC technician from CW Service Pros. They can replace it for you and show you where it’s located for future reference.

You’re not sure what kind of filter to buy. The kind of replacement HEPA filter you need should be listed in your air purifier or air conditioner owner’s manual. If you can’t find this information, it’s best to check with a professional. Otherwise, you may end up with a filter of the wrong model or size.

You want to replace an existing standard filter with a HEPA filter. If your air conditioning system currently has a standard filter and you want to replace it with a HEPA filter, call an HVAC professional. High-efficiency filters are more complicated to size and install. If the job isn’t done correctly, it can cause wear-and-tear damage to the AC system.

You’re unsure about what you’re doing. If you don’t feel confident about changing the filter, don’t worry! It’s absolutely fine to get some professional help with this. An HVAC expert can walk you through the steps of changing your HEPA filter so you can feel confident if you want to do it yourself next time.

Need Help with your HEPA Filter? Call CW Service Pros

Whether you’re using a portable air purifier or have a HEPA filter installed in your central air conditioning, it’s important to change the filter regularly to keep your indoor air quality high. When you need help changing your HEPA filter, or with any other HVAC maintenance work, you can rely on CW Service Pros for expert advice and fast service.