Clean filter next to a clogged, dust-covered filter

Ask ten websites how often to change your filter and you’ll get “every 90 days.” That advice wasn’t written for the Pine Belt. Between longleaf pine pollen blanketing everything yellow each spring, Gulf-fed humidity, and dust from surrounding farmland, Hattiesburg filters clog faster than average.

The Honest Schedule

  • Basic 1-inch fiberglass filters: every 30 days, no exceptions in summer.
  • Pleated 1-inch filters: 30–60 days — check monthly.
  • 4–5-inch media filters: 4–6 months.
  • With pets or allergies: cut every interval in half.

Why It Matters More Here

A clogged filter is the number-one cause of frozen coils, weak airflow, and burned-out blower motors we repair in Hattiesburg. It also forces your system to run longer for the same cooling — which shows up directly on your Mississippi Power bill.

The 5-minute test: pull the filter and hold it up to a light. Can’t see light through it? It’s done, regardless of the calendar.

A Word on MERV Ratings

Higher isn’t always better. A MERV-13 filter in a system designed for MERV-8 can strangle airflow as badly as a dirty filter. If you want better filtration, ask us — sometimes the answer is a media cabinet, not a denser filter.