What Is Merv Rating On Filters

MERV rating is an abbreviation forMinimum Efficiency Reporting Value.

A MERV rating tells you, on a scale of 1-16, how finer your filter traps the pocket-sized particles you lot don't want circulating through your home. The higher a MERV rating, the higher the amount of particles the filter traps.

The American Social club of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) established the ratings arrangement in 1987. Each filter'southward rating represents its lowest possible performance, meaning every MERV rating answers the question, "worst case scenario, how many particles will this filter trap?"

MERV 8

MERV 8 pleated filters are made with synthetic media. They catch pocket-size particles and allergens, between 3-10 microns in size. They are a decent upgrade from cheaper disposable products.

MERV 11

MERV 11 pleated filters are also fabricated with synthetic media and are step up from Merv eight, without a significant price increase. A very good upgrade, providing skillful indoor air quality.

Merv 13 Furnace Filter

MERV 13

MERV thirteen pleated filters are also constructed with synthetic media. Fantabulous filtration even so, not suitable for most hvac systems due to air menses resistance. Check with your furnace manufacturer to ensure that your system is designed for this type of filter.

And so should I buy filters with loftier MERV ratings?

You'd prefer a 5-star hotel to a 2-star hotel but should yous prefer a filter with a MERV rating of 16 to ane with a rating of 9? Probably not.

If your filter has a high MERV rating, you know information technology'south highly effective in preventing things like pollen, bacteria and pet dander from circulating throughout your home; notwithstanding, it may be overly effective in preventing air itself from circulating, which is a bad thing. The stop consequence of less air apportionment may be poorer overall air quality in your dwelling house. Furthermore, more than resistance ways more work for your HVAC system. If you're using a filter with a MERV rating that's not compatible with your system, inefficiency and high energy costs may be the result. Over the long-term if your HVAC organization becomes overworked, you may be faced with costly repairs.

What MERV rating should my filter take?

The answer to this question will vary based on your HVAC system, but generally aiming for a MERV rating between 8 and 13 is ideal for the typical home. Recall, you should brand sure your filter and your system work in harmony. Filters with high MERV ratings may remove more harmful contaminates from your domicile, but they may actually reduce the quality of the air you jiff if you select a filter with a MERV rating that's too loftier for your HVAC organization. You'll also have to modify these filters more frequently than filters with a lower MERV rating.

HVAC system aside, you lot may be thinking 8 to xiii is a pretty wide range. If three families had identical HVAC systems in their homes that were compatible with filters that take a variety of MERV ratings, should they all be using the same type of filter? In one case once more, information technology depends.

Is this your Household?

Household 1

Peradventure one household is comprised of 2 newlyweds who are working hard to jumpstart their careers. They have no fourth dimension for pets, neither of them smoke and they rarely take guests over. They select an air filter with a MERV rating of eight. There are simply ii of them, they have no allergies, they don't fume and don't often have guests over to bring in dust and dirt.

Household ii

A family of v resides in the 2nd household. The children are betwixt the ages of 8 and 15. They're all healthy kids who are into sports, and their parents enjoy hosting team dinners for each of their chilren, who accept friends over oftentimes either way. They also accept a young lab. They select an air filter with a MERV rating of xi.

No one in this family suffers from a breathing condition that would warrant buying a filter with a higher MERV rating, but more than clay, dust and other contaminants detect their way into this home every time they have guests over. Lucy the lab joins the guests and family unit members themselves in churning up these contaminants within their dwelling, and she leaves behind pet dander. They demand an air filter that traps a few more than particles than our first household, but they don't need the highest level of protection.

Household three

Finally, a family of six lives in the third household. Everyone chips in to take care of Grandma, who lives with them, and has emphysema. They don't have any pets because the children seem to have the same allergies that their mother does, just occasionally host friends and family. They select an air filter with a MERV rating of 13. Because most of the family unit accept allergies and the grandmother has a severe breathing trouble, and because in that location are six people bringing contaminants in as opposed to one or ii, a relatively high MERV rating is in their best interest.

Practice some inquiry about your organization to find out what MERV rating is platonic for you. And, don't forget to change your filters, otherwise the MERV rating will be the least of your worries!