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Of course, if someone in your home struggles with allergies, you may want to use a higher-rated filter. Check the manufacturer’s specifications if you’re not sure what filter rating range it can take. We discovered that our MERV filters are a custom size, which makes them about three times more expensive than standard-size filters you can buy at big box stores. When you’re changing filters four times a year, that really adds up.
In general, filters with higher MERV ratings are more effective and improve air quality, but they are also more expensive. MERV 10 – MERV 12 air filters are able to trap particles as small as 1 micron such as automobile exhaust, pollen, and mold spores. Homeowners can use several types of air filters in their home’s HVAC system. It is vital that you choose the right filter for your home, as they eliminate particles circulating in the air. He brings expert knowledge of a myriad of home air filtration topics including HVAC filters, filtration efficiency, and indoor air quality. Their filters capture more than 85% of the particles that normally end up in your home’s air.
Which filter is better MERV 8 or 13?
Choosing the right MERV filter for your home is imperative. While each MERV rating has its place, not all ratings are suitable for every home. If you’re unsure which option is best suited for you or what MERV rating your HVAC system can effectively handle, check its manual or reach out to an HVAC technician. The higher ratings usually feature denser filtration material, which translates to additional force necessary to push air through the filter. Due to the dense composition, extremely powerful HVAC fans are necessary to move air through the filters with high MERV ratings.
We’ve found the furnace filter brands that are most recommended by HVAC professionals. After seeing hundreds of HVAC systems shut down or become ineffective due to the wrong filters, these experts know what filter brands are best. You can find disposable and reusable filters that are labeled electrostatic. As air passes through them, they charge up and trap additional particles. Fiberglass filters are cheaper than disposable pleated filters. Choosing the right furnace filter involves knowing what MERV rating, type, size, and brand of filter you need.
Performance
This rating shows the overall efficiency of an air filter. The higher the rating, the more effective the filter is at catching particles of various sizes. The regularity of changing your air filter depends on the filter’s MERV rating.
By themselves, portable air cleaners and HVAC filters are not enough to protect people from the virus that causes COVID-19. MERV ratings greater than 16 are commonly used in specialized commercial environments where air filtration is essential, such as hospitals. The MERV 1 rating is the lowest efficiency with minimal filtration. The 16 rating offers the highest efficiency and filtration.
How Often Should You Change Your MERV Air Filter?
MERV 16 boasts the highest proficiency at eliminating particles from a building’s air circulation. Most air filters have an arrow marked on them to indicate the direction that the air is supposed to flow. For most homes, the air filter should be changed every 1-3 months. However, you should check your air filter every month to see its condition and if it needs to be changed.
Ensure that the air filter is compatible with your HVAC system prior to purchase. You must choose a filter that your HVAC system can handle to avoid damaging the unit. Determining what MERV rating your furnace or air conditioner can handle can be challenging.
In addition to rips and tears that may occur, washing the filter substantially increases the chance of mold or bacteria growth on the filter itself. The filter may even limit airflow to the point where it causes damage to your HVAC system, leading to added expenses in repairs. Ultimately, the ideal MERV rating for your home depends on the local pollen count, the severity of your family’s allergies , and what your HVAC system can handle. For example, a hospital setting requires exceptional filtration, so higher MERV ratings are needed.
But the tradeoff is that you need to clean washable air filters more often. One thing to keep in mind is that not all HVAC units are able to accommodate air filters with higher MERV ratings. Since a high MERV rating means that more particulates will be removed from the air, you may think that air filters with the highest MERV rating are best. It's best to comply with oven manufacturer's recommendations or consult an HVAC professional to determine exactly which MERV rating is best for your specific system.
The best MERV rating for your home will depend on what you want to filter and the amount of airflow your HVAC system needs to operate. 13-16 MERV – Filters in this category are used in hospitals and clean rooms, where airborne contaminants must be almost completely eliminated. These are not recommended for residential use as they restrict airflow and can damage your heating and cooling system.
On the other hand, you don’t want too low of a rating that will allow more particulates to pass through. Picking the right MERV filter is a fine balance between what’s best for you and what’s best for your system. On top of that, a vacuumed filter may release dust and other toxins into your home via the ductwork when you reinstall it.
Remember that higher MERV ratings mean that your HVAC system will have to work harder to pull air through, so double-check that the system can handle it. Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values, or MERV ratings, are a scale used to rate your air filter’s ability to trap particles. Values range from 1 to 16 and serve various purposes, mainly the particle size they can capture. For starters, it filters everything that a Health Shield does, which includes pollen, dust, dust mites, mold, bacteria, and pet dander. Then, it also filters out cooking oil smoke, smoke, smog, AND virus carriers.
The air filter in an HVAC system plays a critical role in the health and wellbeing of you and your family. They promote clean and healthy air in your home by trapping allergens, dust, dander, pollen, viruses, and other pathogens. You might think that a higher MERV rating would automatically be better, but it’s not. The higher the MERV rating, the smaller the pores are for the air to flow through an HVAC filter. This can create more resistance in airflow than a system is designed to manage, thus making it inefficient. Reducing the airflow in your system can actually worsen the air quality in your home and put a damaging amount of pressure on the fan of your furnace or AC system.
Our pressure drops tests were conducted at pretty standard air flow rates for the average HVAC system. In simple terms, pressure drop is basically air resistance. Your air filter is a literal barrier between your HVAC system and your vents, and that slows the ability of air to get pulled through your vents to your actual system. How much your HVAC’s air flow is slowed by a filter is equivalent to its pressure drop. Each filter will go through six tests per particle size to determine its MERV rating. In each test, the total number of particles in the test will be counted before being sprayed through the filter, and then counted again after.
It’s partially why this is considered the best filter for home use. Obtaining filters with the correct MERV ratings is essential to ensuring that the air is well filtered without overloading the HVAC system. You can use the table below to better understand how filters rated with FPR and MPR compare to the more standard MERV rating system. Filters that are MERV 16 to 20 are generally only found in hospitals, cleanrooms, and nuclear power plants.
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