What Does Merv Mean On Air Filters

MERV rating is an abridgement forMinimum Efficiency Reporting Value.

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

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) established the ratings system in 1987. Each filter's rating represents its lowest possible performance, meaning every MERV rating answers the question, "worst example scenario, how many particles will this filter trap?"

MERV 8

MERV 8 pleated filters are made with synthetic media. They take hold of modest particles and allergens, betwixt three-x microns in size. They are a decent upgrade from cheaper disposable products.

MERV 11

MERV 11 pleated filters are likewise made with synthetic media and are pace upwardly from Merv 8, without a significant price increment. A very practiced upgrade, providing practiced indoor air quality.

Merv 13 Furnace Filter

MERV 13

MERV 13 pleated filters are besides constructed with synthetic media. Excellent filtration all the same, not suitable for nigh hvac systems due to air flow resistance. Check with your furnace manufacturer to ensure that your system is designed for this blazon of filter.

So should I buy filters with high MERV ratings?

You lot'd adopt a 5-star hotel to a 2-star hotel but should you lot adopt a filter with a MERV rating of sixteen to one with a rating of 9? Probably not.

If your filter has a high MERV rating, you lot know information technology's highly effective in preventing things like pollen, leaner and pet dander from circulating throughout your home; withal, it may be overly constructive in preventing air itself from circulating, which is a bad thing. The end result of less air apportionment may be poorer overall air quality in your home. Furthermore, more resistance means more work for your HVAC organisation. If you're using a filter with a MERV rating that'due south non uniform with your system, inefficiency and loftier energy costs may be the consequence. Over the long-term if your HVAC organization becomes overworked, you may exist faced with plush repairs.

What MERV rating should my filter have?

The respond to this question will vary based on your HVAC system, but generally aiming for a MERV rating between 8 and thirteen is platonic for the typical home. Remember, yous should make certain your filter and your system piece of work in harmony. Filters with high MERV ratings may remove more harmful contaminates from your home, but they may actually reduce the quality of the air you breath if yous select a filter with a MERV rating that'south too high for your HVAC system. You'll besides have to alter these filters more frequently than filters with a lower MERV rating.

HVAC system aside, you may be thinking viii to 13 is a pretty broad range. If three families had identical HVAC systems in their homes that were compatible with filters that have a diversity of MERV ratings, should they all exist using the aforementioned blazon of filter? In one case over again, it depends.

Is this your Household?

Household 1

Perhaps ane household is comprised of two newlyweds who are working hard to jumpstart their careers. They have no time for pets, neither of them smoke and they rarely have guests over. They select an air filter with a MERV rating of viii. There are but ii of them, they have no allergies, they don't fume and don't frequently take guests over to bring in dust and dirt.

Household two

A family of five resides in the 2d household. The children are betwixt the ages of viii and 15. They're all salubrious kids who are into sports, and their parents enjoy hosting squad dinners for each of their chilren, who have friends over often either manner. They also have a young lab. They select an air filter with a MERV rating of 11.

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

Household 3

Finally, a family of six lives in the 3rd household. Everyone chips in to take intendance 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, only occasionally host friends and family. They select an air filter with a MERV rating of 13. Considering most of the family unit accept allergies and the grandmother has a astringent breathing trouble, and considering there are six people bringing contaminants in as opposed to one or 2, a relatively high MERV rating is in their best interest.

Do some enquiry about your organisation to observe out what MERV rating is ideal for y'all. And, don't forget to change your filters, otherwise the MERV rating will be the least of your worries!