How often should you replace the filters in your home?
Updated September 27, 2026 · 2 min read
A modern home is full of filters, and almost all of them are easy to forget because they sit out of sight. A clogged filter makes the ventilation, heat pump or dishwasher work harder, costs energy and wears the machine out faster. Here are typical intervals — always check the manual for your model, as it has the final say.
Ventilation and heating
- Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR/balanced ventilation): replace the supply and extract filters typically every 6–12 months, and check them in between — more often near a busy road or in pollen season.
- Exhaust air heat pump: clean the filter every few months and replace it once or twice a year.
- Air-to-air heat pump: vacuum or rinse the dust filters in the indoor unit roughly every one to three months while it is in use.
- Forced-air furnace or air handler: every 1–3 months depending on the filter type; thicker pleated filters last longer than thin fibreglass ones.
Kitchen and laundry
- Cooker hood grease filter: wash it every one to three months — many metal filters can go in the dishwasher.
- Charcoal filter in a recirculating cooker hood: replace it every three to six months, it can't be cleaned.
- Dishwasher filter: rinse it about once a month.
- Washing machine drain filter: clean it every few months, and whenever the machine drains slowly.
- Tumble dryer: empty the lint filter after every load, and clean the condenser or heat pump filter regularly.
- Water filter in the fridge or in a filter jug: usually every six months, or as the manufacturer says.
Signs that a filter needs attention
- Air flow from the vents feels weaker, or rooms feel stuffy.
- The heat pump or ventilation unit is louder than usual, or shows a filter warning.
- The dishwasher leaves residue, or the washing machine drains slowly.
- Grease drips from the cooker hood.
Stop relying on memory
Filters are the perfect job for a recurring task: the interval is fixed, and nobody remembers when it was last done. In HomeTendr, add "Change ventilation filters, every 6 months" and choose whether the next date is counted from the due date or from when you actually did it.
Tip: add the ventilation unit or heat pump as an item and save the filter size as a property ("Filter: F7, 592 × 287 mm"). Next time you order filters, the answer is in your phone.