What does the MERV rating on a filter indicate?
MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, and it's used to tell you how well an air filter can catch particles in your home's air. MERV 5–8 (good): These filters are better at catching small particles (3–10 microns) like mold spores, hair spray, dust mites and animal dander.
What does the MERV rating on my air filter mean?
MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. Or in English, “how effective is your air filter?” MERV ratings range from 1-20. The higher the MERV rating on a filter, the fewer dust particles and other contaminants can pass through it.
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 does MERV rating mean on a furnace filter?
Now that you know why furnace filters are important, let’s talk about the MERV rating you see on filter packaging. MERV is an abbreviation for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value . The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) developed this rating system to make it easy to find filters that block out certain types of particles.
How efficient is a fiberglass filter?
Fiberglass filters fall on the far end on that spectrum, delivering near-maximum airflow in a tradeoff that affords almost zero filtering efficiency. There's a reason they're commonly referred to as “rock catchers” in the industry. They don't really filter anything beyond the largest of particles.
Do MERV 13 filters contain fiberglass?
For example, the filter media in our MERV 13 pleated filters is made of polypropylene/acrylic fibers. This high-quality, synthetic, plastic-based material allows the filters to trap particles as small as lint, dust mites, mold spores, pollen, pet dander, fine dust, smoke, viruses, and bacteria.
Are fiberglass filters better?
Despite the fact that pleated air filters are not the cheapest option, they provide better air filtration than fiberglass panel filters. With pleated synthetic fiber media, these filters provide a large surface area for capturing more airborne pollutants.
What is a fiberglass filter?
Fiberglass filters – These are glass mat filters composed of 15–60 μm glass fibers with a high porosity. These are the most common filters used in residential furnace and air conditioning systems. They are low cost.
Will MERV 13 damage my HVAC?
MERV 13 air filters are the highest-rated air filters for home use. Any air filter with a rating higher than 13 will restrict air flow to the point of which could cause damage to your HVAC system, resulting in an added expense to fix it.
Why are fiberglass air filters so expensive?
2. Expensive Filters Are Made of Better-Quality Materials. Expensive air filters are made of better-quality materials than cheap air filters. They are often made of fiberglass, which is a porous material that can trap more dust and pollen than other materials like cardboard or paper.
Does MERV 11 restrict airflow?
In most cases, a MERV 11 air filter isn't too high for residential use. Generally speaking, anything under a MERV 13 air filter should provide very efficient air purification in a home without impacting airflow.
How often should you change fiberglass air filter?
every 30 daysIt is a general recommendation that you should change your air filter in your home every 30 days when using less expensive fiberglass filters. High-end pleated filters can last as long as 6 months, but these typical guidelines assume average use and don't take into account the size and type of filter.
How often should fiberglass filters be changed?
every 30 daysFiberglass air filters are a low cost, disposable solution but need to be changed every 30 days or less. Pleated air filters are also disposable but typically have better efficiency than fiberglass and can last longer. Replace within 90 days depending on the season.
Is MERV 5 Good enough?
MERV 5-8 Filters: MERV ratings of 5 to 8 indicate a medium-quality filter that's sufficient for most homes. They trap particles as small as 3 microns, which include mold spores, animal dander, and the highly allergenic droppings of dust mites.
What material filters air the best?
Activated carbon is considered one of the safest, most reliable air filter materials available today.
How good is a MERV 8 filter?
A MERV 8 rated filter captures at least 84.9% of particles between the sizes of 0.3 and 10 microns. This is typically good enough to get the job done for the average home. However, a MERV 8 filter captures less than 20% of particles smaller than 0.3 microns.
What material are the MERV 13 filters made of?
polypropylene fiber100% polypropylene fiber. MERV-13 filters are engineered to effectively block impurities down to sub-micron levels (. 3 microns) with 99.97% efficiency.
Do air filters contain fiberglass?
Furnace air filters protect the furnace mechanisms from getting dirty and also remove particles from the air you breathe. Filters are made of different materials including fiberglass, polyester, and cotton.
Are filters made of fiberglass?
Fiberglass filters are actually made out of spun glass or fiberglass. They have a recommended lifespan of only 30 days. While they can catch things like dust, lint, and insects, they miss a lot of smaller contaminants.
Does MERV 13 filter VOC?
On their own, high-efficiency particulate filters (those with ratings ranging from MERV 13/13A up to HEPA filters) cannot completely remove volatile organic compounds from the air as these filters can only target particulate matter (PM).
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 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 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 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.
Does Ashrae recognize Merv 17-20?
ASHRAE no longer recognizes MERV 17-20 values. This level of filtration does fall into the MERV system but they are shown here to add continuity to the overall filter picture. These filters remove at least 99.97% of dust particle and are capable of removing viruses and radioactive material.
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.
Can you remove a product from your cart?
Our price is lower than the manufacturer's "minimum advertised price.". As a result, we cannot show you the price in catalog or the product page. You have no obligation to purchase the product once you know the price. You can simply remove the item from your cart.
Can you add videos to your watch history?
Videos you watch may be added to the TV's watch history and influence TV recommendations. To avoid this, cancel and sign in to YouTube on your computer.
What MERV rating should you use?
Since a high MERV rating means that more particulates will be removed from the air, you may first think to only use air filters with the highest MERV rating.
Is it time to change your air filter?
Changing your air filter is necessary to maintain the health and efficiency of your home’s HVAC system. Anytime your use your AC or furnace, the air filter will get dirty as dust and particles flow through the system and accumulate on the filter.
What happens if the air filter is backwards?
If you install the air filter backward, you likely won’t notice any immediate effects. As long as you promptly correct the filter’s orientation by installing the air filter in the correct direction, then you should suffer no problems.
What about washable air filters?
Washable air filters can be reused over and over again. They are usually made of metal or plastic and can be cleaned with water. They are great because you don’t need to spend money on disposable air filters. But the tradeoff is that you need to clean them more often.
What is a good filter for HVAC?
MERV 5 – MERV 8 filters provide good filtration and will remove most pollen, mold spores, and dust mites. Using MERV 5-8 filters will keep your HVAC system more efficient than using higher rated filters, as long as you replace your filters regularly.
What is a Merv 8 filter?
With a MERV 8 rating and mesh-reinforced construction, these filters block most household particles. Since they come in almost any size, these are our favorite pleated air filters to use.
How to determine the size of an air filter?
The size of your air filter can be determined by looking at the old air filter in your HVAC system. Most air filters have their dimensions printed right on them.
What MERV Rating Is the Best?
The MERV rating tells you what the furnace filter can block out, but understanding what each of the numbers means will help you decide which rating is right for you.
What is the MERV rating of a furnace filter?
Their filters capture more than 85% of the particles that normally end up in your home’s air. They make furnace filters with MERV ratings of 8, 11, and 13. These ratings will fit most residential needs.
How thick is a furnace filter?
Furnace filters come in a range of sizes and thicknesses. Yours might be 1 to 6 inches thick.
What does MERV mean in furnace?
MERV ratings indicate how effective a filter is at keeping different particles out. You might have been using furnace filters with one that is too low or too high for your furnace without knowing it. If the rating is too low, potentially dangerous or damage-causing particles can easily slip by.
How much does a MERV cost?
But they may be adequate for households without allergy concerns. These are available in MERV ratings 2-4. Expect to pay anywhere from $2 to $8 for these.
How much does a filter cost for a furnace?
A 3-pack of the basic Filtrete air filters is about $10. This is an affordable option that keeps your furnace working efficiently while blocking out particulate matter.
Which is better, pleated or reusable?
Disposable pleated filters are more effective than disposable fiberglass filters, and they’re available in higher MERV ratings (up to 13). Reusable metal filters are more convenient, but much more costly as well.
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 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 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 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 MERV Rating on Filters?
If you'd like to know what a MERV rating is, you're in the right place. MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. In short, a MERV rating lets you know what air particle size an air filter will trap. A higher rating means that the filter can trap smaller air particles.
How many microns does a MERV filter remove?
A filter with a MERV rating of between 1-6 can remove particles anywhere between 0.3 to 10 microns with an effectiveness of 20%. It can remove small particles such as dust mites, spray paint dust, carpet fibers, and pollen.
What does a higher MERV rating mean?
A higher rating means that the filter can trap smaller air particles. While you may automatically think that a higher MERV rating means a better air filter, that's not always the case. Higher MERV ratings aren't always necessary and can decrease your unit's efficiency. The best MERV rating will be the one that suits your needs ...
What is the best MERV rating for a home?
In general, the best MERV rating for a home is somewhere between 8-10. These filters will capture a large portion of the airborne particles and improve indoor air quality without making your energy costs rise significantly.
Why is the MERV rating scale used?
In 1987, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers designed the MERV rating scale to give a more accurate picture of an air filter's capabilities. Unlike other scales, which emphasized a need to increase the number of particles passing through an air filter, MERV was designed to offer a balance between particle ...
Why is a MERV rating important?
A MERV rating is important because it helps you understand an air filter’s effectiveness so you can choose the right one for your particular needs. For example, if you have someone in your home who suffers from allergies, you may want a higher MERV rating.
What is MERV scale?
The MERV scale also helps you balance your air quality and energy efficiency needs. The rating gives you the worst-case possibility for an air filter, so you can get a good idea of how it will perform. You can get by with a lower MERV rating and save money on your energy bill in some cases.
Why Is HEPA Filter Called HEPA?
HEPA stands for H igh- E fficiency P articular A ir. Here’s the definition of what that actually means:
What does M mean in MERV?
The ‘M’ in MERV rating stands for ‘Minimum.’ As you can see, the HEPA filters surpass the most restrictive 0.3-1.0 micron particle size interval MERV rating is based upon.
How many microns are in air pollutants?
More than 85% of air pollutants with an average particle size between 3 and 10 microns or greater.
What does MERV stand for?
MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. The rating was devised by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) to answer one question:
When was the MERV scale first used?
Here is Ron Wilkinson’s (P.E.) commentary on the MERV scale when it first came to light in 1987:
Is MERV rating important?
What is interesting is that you’ll rarely see MERV rating in an air purifier specification sheet. It is quite an important filter-specific factor.
Do fiberglass filters get better airflow?
Creating a filter like this has been a challenging task because generally speaking, the more efficient a filter is at actual filtration, the worse its airflow is.
Why does my tech recommend fiberglass then?
Despite all of this, many HVAC technicians still recommend fiberglass filters for airflow reasons. Why is that?
Are pleated filters that much more efficient?
This is a role in which the pleated air filter succeeds and the fiberglass air filter fails with a capital F.
What happens when particles pass through a fiberglass air filter?
When particles pass through your fiberglass air filter and enter your system, one of two things happens. A decent amount of those pollutants cycle back through the system into your home so that you breathe them in. The rest can attach to the refrigerant coils. This is extremely bad.
What is a Pleated filter?
Pleated filters, especially those of a higher MERV rating, are effective against even the smallest particles. A MERV 13 Catch All filter from Second Nature will catch at least 50% of particles from 0.3-1 microns in diameter. This includes tiny little things such as pet dander and iddy-biddy smoke particles. Fiberglass filters are so efficient with particles this small that their percentage is pretty close to zero.
How much does a fiberglass filter cost?
Most fiberglass filters are around one or two dollars. Pleated are more like 12 dollars, which according to basic subtraction, is more than two. The first caveat here is that fiberglass is only rated to last one month, while pleated filters are typically rated to last three times that long. So while they’re still cheaper, they’re not as much cheaper as you’d think with a one-to-one comparison.
What is the most common type of air filter?
The two most common types of air filters are fiberglass air filters and pleated air filters and they couldn’t really be more different as far as home air filters go.