How Often Should You Change Your AC Filter in Texas?

Your air filter is the single most important maintenance item on your HVAC system — and the one most commonly neglected. Here is everything you need to know about filter changing frequency in North Texas.

The General Rule for Texas

In Texas, where AC runs nearly year-round and dust, pollen, and cottonwood seeds are abundant, we recommend changing 1-inch filters every 4-6 weeks during heavy use seasons (April through October) and every 6-8 weeks in the cooler months. This is more frequent than the general national recommendation because our systems run so much longer.

If You Have Pets

Pet dander is one of the fastest filter-cloggers. If you have one pet, change your filter every 4-6 weeks. Two or more pets means every 3-4 weeks. Pet hair and dander can accumulate on your evaporator coil if filters are not changed frequently enough, leading to expensive coil cleaning.

Construction or Renovation

If you are doing any construction or renovation work, change your filter every 2-3 weeks during the project. Construction dust is extremely fine and clogs filters rapidly. If it gets past the filter into your system, it can damage the blower motor and coat the evaporator coil.

Choosing the Right Filter

MERV ratings measure filtration efficiency. For most Texas homes, a MERV 7-9 filter provides a good balance between filtration quality and airflow. Avoid very cheap fiberglass filters (MERV 1-4) — they protect your equipment but do little for air quality. Avoid very high MERV filters (14+) unless your system specifically supports them, as they can restrict airflow and damage your system.

The Bottom Line

In Granbury and Hood County, set a reminder to check your filter every 4 weeks during summer. Keep a few spares on hand so you never skip a change. It is the cheapest, easiest maintenance task on your entire HVAC system — and one of the most impactful for efficiency and equipment life.