What MERV rating should I use?
What is a MERV Rating?
- MERV 1-4: Carpet fibers, cockroach debris, dust mites, pollen, sanding dust, spray paint dust, and textile fibers.
- MERV 5-8: Dust mites, dusting aids, fabric protector, hair spray, mold spores, and pet dander.
- MERV 9-12: Humidifier dust, nebulizer droplets, legionella
- MERV 13-16: Bacteria, saliva droplets, and dust from smoke.
What is the MERV rating on filtrete filters?
The rating is based on the filter’s ability to catch particles of a specific size. The MERV rating range is 1-20, with 1 being the lowest and 20 being the highest. One of the best ways to determine what MERV rating you should use is to compare the options side-by-side.
What is the difference between Merv 11 and MERV 13?
The MERV 11 filter is better at capturing pet dander and bacteria from sneezes. It also provides additional protection against smoke, smog, or automobile exhaust fumes that may seep in from the garage. What does a MERV 13 filter capture? A MERV 13 rated filter captures 90% or better of particles between the sizes of 0.3 and 10 microns. The higher-rated filter also captures up to 90 percent or better of smaller particles floating through the air.
Should I use MERV 8 or 11?
The better an air filter is at trapping particles, the quicker it will get maxed out. If you’re worried about the effects of breathing in fine air particles, that’s another reason to choose a MERV 11 air filter over a MERV 8 air filter. Fine air particles are 2.5 microns and smaller.
What is the Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) Rating on Filters?
MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. Or in English, “how effective is your air filter?”
What is a Merv 13 filter?
MERV 13 filters, for example, also scrub out bacteria, tobacco smoke, auto fumes, insecticide dust, pet dander, and more., which is why it’s the recommended rating of the ASHRAE.
What is the difference between MERV 13-20 and MERV 7-12?
In general, most residential systems can adequately remove airborne contaminants with a filter rated MERV 7-12, while MERV 13-20 is typically found in hospital and pharmaceutical manufacturing settings. Advertisement.
What is the best filter for home air purifier?
When it comes to home air purifiers, HEPA filters are considered the best at removing at least 99.97 percent of airborne contaminants 0.3 microns in size, which is equivalent to MERV 16.
What is the best rating for HVAC?
According to the ASHRAE, the best rating for residential HVAC systems is MERV 13. But before you upgrade your filter, make sure your specific system can accommodate that rating. A higher MERV rating often means lower airflow, which can cause the system to work harder—use more energy—to do its job. If your home HVAC system is not capable of handling MERV 13, opt for a filter with the next highest rating possible.
What is MERV 17-20 used for?
MERV 17-20. Commonly used for facilities that house pharmaceutical manufacturing, orthopedic surgery rooms, radioactive and carcinogenic materials. Controls all of the particulates listed for MERV 1-16 above, in addition to virus carriers, carbon dust, sea salt, combustion smoke, radon progeny, and microscopic allergens.
How often do you change a Merv filter?
When you’re changing filters four times a year, that really adds up. So if you’re working with a builder to design a system, keep that in mind.
What is a MERV rating?
A MERV rating chart shows a numerical value. The range is from 1 (lowest efficiency) to 20 (highest efficiency). MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. This is an industry standard rating system. Use this rating system compare filters made by different manufacturers. This rating system reports how well the filter captures and holds dust. The chart below shows the MERV ratings. It shows particle size ranges. It also shows air filter efficiency levels. Efficiency is measured by the percentage of particles captured. In January 2009 ASHRAE stopped recognizing MERV 17 -20 values. These values are shown to reflect the common vernacular used by many players in the filtration industry
What is a MERV 14 filter?
The High Capacity MERV 14 Media filter (HC-14) provides a large volume of dust capacity. This 4 inch filter has over 60 square feet of synthetic dirt grabbing fibers. It is 75% efficient on particles 0.3 -1.0 microns, 85% efficient on particles 1-3 microns and 95% efficient on particle larger than 3 microns. The filter has a Galvanized steel frame, the filter dimensions are 20″ x 19.75″ x 3.75″. The Back pressure from this filter is 0.22 WG.
What is the best air filter for a pet?
We recommend MERV 11 filters as our “better” air filter. These air filters are great for people with pets. They remove pet dander and most allergy causing air particles. These include mold, smoke and pollen. We do not recommend M 12 or higher 13 filters. They may negatively affect certain HVAC systems. These filters can cause restricted airflow. The blowers in HVAC units rely on a good air supply to keep them cool.
What is a good filter for a furnace?
MERV 9 through 12 filters are good filters for general home use. They remove the bulk of dust we see in homes and offices. They generally allow enough air to flow through a furnace filter to allow the blower to stay cool. Their cost is often moderate and are within many budgets.
What is the E3 arrestance?
Arrestance is a measure of the ability of an air filtration device to dust from the air. The E3 arrestance describes how well an air filter removes larger particles – such as dirt, lint, hair, and dust.
What is the M value of an air filter?
Filters with a (M) value 5 through 8 remove finer dust particles. These air filters are used to protect people or products from airborne contaminants. These particles could hurt health and productivity.
Is a MERV filter good for a furnace?
They remove the bulk of dust we see in homes and offices. They generally allow enough air to flow through a furnace filter to allow the blower to stay cool.
What is a MERV filter?
In general, filters with a rating of MERV 16 or below are considered to be HVAC-system-grade filters for residential, commercial and general hospital use. MERV 17 through MERV 20 filters are typically used in surgical operating rooms, clean rooms and other contexts that require absolute cleanliness.
What is MERV rating?
An air filter’s minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) rating measures how effectively the filter stops dust and other contaminants from passing through the filter and into the air stream. Filters with higher MERV ratings trap small particles more effectively than filters with lower MERV ratings.
What is the purpose of air filters?
As air moves through a building’s HVAC system, air filters trap and collect large and small particles such as dust, allergens and microorganisms. According to the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), this filtration helps provide healthier indoor air quality. A filter's MERV number indicates how it's ...
What is a multi filter system?
When used in a multi-filter system, the pre-filters trap the dirt and large particles before the air reaches the final filters downstream, which then remove the smaller particles. This multi-filter system extends the life of the more expensive final filters, leading to overall cost savings.
Does ASHRAE recommend MERV filter?
A: Although ASHRAE does not recommend a specific MERV filter rating for preventing COVID-19 transmission, the organization suggests that upgrading systems in non-healthcare facilities to MERV-13 or the highest achievable level can be a worthwhile step in emergency response plans. Learn more about these recommendations here.
Is particle filtration effective?
Particle filtration can be "modestly effective" against allergy and asthma symptoms.
Can you use a final filter in a multi filter system?
When used as final filters, they are the primary filters for an HVAC system. Final filters may be used alone in a single-filter system , or they may be used in combination with one or more pre-filters. When used in a multi-filter system, the pre-filters trap the dirt and large particles before the air reaches the final filters downstream, which then remove the smaller particles. This multi-filter system extends the life of the more expensive final filters, leading to overall cost savings.
What Is The MERV Rating on AC Filters?
MERV means Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) and is an industry standard that measures the overall effectiveness of air filters. As the MERV rating increases the finer the filtration becomes. With finer filtration, fewer airborne contaminates & dust particles are allowed to pass through the filter. The most common "Airborne Contaminates" that these filters are tested against tend to include pollen, dust mites, mold spores, dust, pet dander, bacteria and tobacco smoke.
What is the arrestance of an air filter?
What Is Air Filter Arrestance? Arrestance is a measure of the ability of an air filtration device to remove a synthetic dust from the air. The higher the arrestance a filter contains, the greater ability to remove large particles including dirt, dust, lint, and hair.
What is the measure of the ability of a filter to remove the staining portion of atmospheric dust from the test?
Efficiency in the ASW 52.1-92 Standard test method, is a measure of the ability of a filter to remove the staining portion of atmospheric dust from the test air. This is officially termed Atmospheric Dust Spot Efficiency. A high dust spot efficiency results in a high resistance to staining.
What is the best MERV rating for a home air filter?
So, while higher MERV ratings are more efficient, the recommended MERV ratings for residential filters are between MERV 7 and MERV 13. Most airborne contaminants found in residential homes can be removed with an air filter within MERV 7 and MERV 13.
What does MERV mean on furnace filters?
What does MERV rating mean on a furnace filter? Why should I care? MERV is an abbreviation for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. Your filters MERV rating tells you, on a scale of 1-16, how effectively your filter traps the small particles you don’t want to circulate through your home such as dust, pollen, mold, and other irritants.
What is the best air filter for a residential HVAC system?
These air filters provide highly effective residential air filtration for a much healthier breathing environment. MERV 13 air filters are considered the best overall for residential HVAC systems. Schools commonly use MERV 13 air filters to provide clean learning environments for their students and staff.
What is the best furnace filter rating?
Furnace filters with MERV ratings between 6-8 are the cheapest ones and are considered the bare minimum of efficiency. MERV 6-8 filters protect your HVAC system, but are not considered the most effective at catching large portions of airborne particles. If anyone in your household suffers from allergies or asthma, you should consider getting a higher MERV air filter. Filters with a MERV 6 rating are more affordable and will provide the bare minimum for a home without furry pets.
What is the best air filter for asthma?
If anyone in your household suffers from allergies or asthma, you should consider getting a higher MERV air filter. Filters with a MERV 6 rating are more affordable and will provide the bare minimum for a home without furry pets.
What is a MERV 11-13 filter?
MERV 11-13 air filters are somewhat of a middle ground between the cheap ones and the more expensive ones. They are efficient at capturing nearly all of the largest particles, as well as most of the smaller ones. If you have pets, a MERV 11-13 filter will be much more effective at cleaning your indoor air. These air filters provide highly effective residential air filtration for a much healthier breathing environment.
Do you pay attention to MERV rating?
A lot of homeowners don’t pay attention to their filter MERV rating, but if you’re a person with pets or allergies, then it will be beneficial for you to care more. Higher-rated filters are beneficial to those who are chronically ill; have respiratory conditions, or live with pets.
What does MERV mean on air filters?
The MERV rating is there to tell you how efficient the air filter is in filtering out particles of certain sizes. This affects the types of air pollutants the air filter is able to capture.
What is the Difference Between MERV 11 vs MERV 8 Air Filters?
This comparison table helps highlight the differences between MERV 8 and MERV 11 filters so it would be easier to decide which one will work best.
How many microns are in a MERV filter?
Fine air particles are 2.5 microns and smaller. At that size, the air particles can get into lung tissue and enter the bloodstream. MERV 11 air filters can filter out a large percentage of fine particles, but a MERV 8 air filter can’t.
What filter can trap particles in the air?
A MERV 8 air filter can trap and block the following particles in the air:
What is a Merv 11 filter?
A MERV 11 air filter has a higher efficiency rating. Meaning, it can capture finer particles and clear more contaminants out of the air. But is MERV 11 too high for your needs?
Why is it important to pick a MERV rating?
Picking the right MERV rating is an important decision in terms of overall cost, air quality, product durability. The right MERV rating can ultimately improve the lifespan of your HVAC system.
Can a MERV rating affect airflow?
Restricted airflow can decrease comfort, increase energy use, and accelerate the wear and tear of HVAC components. In particular, using an air filter with a MERV rating that’s too high can damage the compressor, heat exchanger, ...
