HVAC Filter Replacement in Galveston & the Gulf Coast

Every 30 days — not the 90-day schedule printed on the filter packaging. That 90-day recommendation assumes moderate climate conditions with average humidity, minimal airborne particulate, and four to six months of AC runtime per year. Galveston doesn't meet any of those assumptions.

Gulf Coast humidity regularly exceeds 80%. Salt particulate is present in the air year-round. Your AC runs nine to ten months out of the year — sometimes eleven. Your HVAC filter is working harder, catching more, and clogging faster than any filter in a landlocked city. Monthly replacement isn't being cautious. It's the minimum for maintaining proper airflow and system efficiency in Galveston, Texas City, League City, Dickinson, La Marque, and Santa Fe.

Why Gulf Coast Filters Clog Three Times Faster

Standard HVAC filters trap dust, pollen, pet dander, and household particles. On the Gulf Coast, your filter also contends with salt particulate carried inland by prevailing southeast winds, elevated mold spore counts driven by constant humidity, fine sand from coastal weather patterns, and higher overall particulate loads from nine to ten months of continuous air circulation.

A filter that would last 90 days in Dallas or San Antonio is saturated in 30-40 days on the Gulf Coast. You can see it yourself — pull a filter after 30 days in a Galveston home and compare it to one from an inland home. The coastal filter will be noticeably darker, heavier, and more restricted.

Humidity makes it worse. Moisture in the air causes trapped particles to clump and compress against the filter media. This creates denser blockages than dry particulate alone. A humid, salt-laden filter doesn't just restrict airflow — it creates a breeding surface for mold and bacteria that then get circulated through your home every time the blower runs.

What Happens When You Wait Too Long

A clogged filter forces your system to work harder to pull air through the restriction. The consequences cascade:

Reduced airflow drops your system's cooling capacity. Your thermostat calls for more runtime to reach the set temperature. That means higher CenterPoint Energy bills — typically $20-40 per month of extra runtime from a severely restricted filter.

The evaporator coil gets too cold without adequate airflow and can freeze. A frozen coil stops cooling entirely, and the ice can damage the coil fins when it melts. Frozen coil service calls run $150-300 depending on whether the coil sustained damage.

The blower motor draws more amps pushing air through the clogged filter. Higher amp draw means more heat, shorter motor life, and eventual burnout. Blower motor replacement costs $400-800 installed.

Restricted return air causes the evaporator to run at lower suction pressure, which forces the compressor to work harder. Compressor strain is the most expensive consequence — a compressor replacement runs $1,500-3,000+. All because of a $15 filter that wasn't changed on time.

The Right Filter for Coastal Homes

Not all filters perform equally in a salt air environment. Here's what we recommend for Gulf Coast homes:

MERV 8-11 pleated filters for most homes. This range captures salt particulate, mold spores, pollen, and dust without creating excessive static pressure. Higher MERV ratings (13+) can actually restrict airflow too much in older systems not designed for high-efficiency filtration.

Avoid fiberglass panel filters. The flat, inexpensive fiberglass filters you find at hardware stores for $2 don't capture enough of the fine salt particulate that causes problems on the coast. They're designed for basic dust and do almost nothing for the particles that matter in Galveston.

Consider MERV 11 if anyone in the home has allergies or respiratory issues. The Gulf Coast's mold spore counts are among the highest in the country — a MERV 11 filter captures 85%+ of mold spores compared to 50-70% for a MERV 8.

Avoid washable filters in coastal environments. Salt deposits bond to washable filter media and don't fully rinse out, reducing effectiveness over time. Disposable pleated filters are more reliable in salt air conditions.

The 9-10 Filter Changes Per Year Reality

Here's the math that catches coastal homeowners off guard. Your AC runs from roughly March through November — nine months. That's nine filter changes per year at 30-day intervals. If you run the system into December or start in February (both common in Galveston), you're at ten or eleven changes.

At $12-20 per quality pleated filter, that's $108-220 per year in filters. Compare that to the cost of one frozen coil service call ($150-300), one blower motor repair ($400-800), or one compressor replacement ($1,500-3,000+). Filters are the cheapest insurance your HVAC system has.

Setting Up a Filter Schedule

Our maintenance plan members receive a filter change at every quarterly visit — that's four of the nine to ten annual changes handled automatically. For the months between visits, we recommend setting a recurring reminder on the first of each month during cooling season.

If you're buying filters yourself, buy a 12-pack at the start of the year. Having filters on hand eliminates the excuse of putting off a trip to the hardware store. Write the installation date on the filter frame with a marker so you always know when it went in.

For homes with multiple return vents — common in larger Galveston-area homes — remember that each return has its own filter. A 2,500 square foot home with three returns needs three filters changed every 30 days. That's 27-33 filters per year.

Not Sure What Size or Type You Need?

Call us or schedule a visit. We'll identify the correct filter size, recommend the right MERV rating for your system and your household's needs, and set you up with a supply. Maintenance plan members get filter changes included in their quarterly visits at no additional charge, with priority scheduling and no dispatch fees.