Full Answer
What's the difference between Merv, MPR, and FPR?
The three ratings are among the most common:
- MERV: Developed by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), this rating measures residential filters. ...
- MPR: The Microparticle Performance Rating measures how well filters catch particles smaller than one micrometer.
- FPR: This is a one-to-ten rating that Home Depot created.
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 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.
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 MERV filter should I use at home?
Generally, a MERV rating between 6-13 meets the needs of most residences. This range offers a good balance between air filtration, air flow and affordability. If you select an air filter with a MERV 13 rating, it can last up to six months before needing to be replaced.
Is MERV 11 too restrictive?
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.
What level MERV filter should I use?
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.
Is MERV 13 too high for residential?
MERV 13 is the highest MERV value safe for residential furnaces; the higher ratings are used primarily in commercial units. If you are wondering what MERV to try, keep these recommendations in mind; ASHRAE recommends MERV 6 or higher. US Department of Energy recommends MERV 13.
Would a MERV 11 hurt your HVAC?
The short answer is that it can, but it's not really an issue except under extreme circumstances. Most modern HVAC systems have no problem working with higher MERV filters, which is why millions of homeowners depend on them.
Is MERV 11 OK for my furnace?
Increased usage can lead to more wear and tear, so make sure to regularly maintain your furnace. MERV 11 filters however, are not considered to be too high for residential use. Anything higher than a MERV 11 is designed for commercial or households with family members suffering from respiratory issues.
Can MERV be too high?
If the MERV rating on your furnace is too high, it may force your furnace to work too hard and leave it vulnerable to damages. In addition, you may not get the air velocity required to reach all parts of your home leaving inconsistencies in temperature.
How high is too high MERV?
The MERV rating system goes from 1 to 20, the highest (20) being the rating used for filters in places such as hospitals. So while the MERV rating does go above 13, it will be best to stray from going any higher in your home.
Is MERV 12 too high for HVAC?
What is the best MERV filter for your furnace or air handler? The short answer is this: The best MERV rating for your heating and air conditioning equipment is the MERV recommended by the manufacturer. It's usually in the range of 8-12 MERV.
Is MERV 11 or 13 better?
MERV 11 furnace filters have a particle arrestance of a little over 90%. In comparison, MERV 13 HVAC filters have a particle arrestance of around 98%. Naturally, it is significantly more efficient. MERV 11 rated air filters are ideal for those who live in a moderately polluted area, have mild allergies, or own a pet.
Is MERV 8 or 13 better?
You're better off purchasing MERV 8 filters and changing them more often. That's because not only are the 13s higher in price, they need to be replaced more often. They remove dust and allergens so well that they pack with dust much faster than a standard MERV 8.
Is MERV 8 or 11 better?
MERV 11 filters are more efficient than MERV 8 filters as they can capture smaller particles. They offer additional protection from pet dander, dust mites, auto-emissions, and lung-damaging dust. This is a good option for households with pets or those looking for even better air quality than the MERV 8 can provide.
What MERV rating is too restrictive?
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.
Do higher MERV filters restrict airflow?
A higher MERV rating means a higher resistance, which means less airflow. When researching HVAC systems, airflow will come up a lot. That's because it's very important for the performance and longevity of your furnace or your air handler. Airflow is also the key to a comfortable home.
Is there a big difference between MERV 8 and MERV 11?
A MERV 11 rated filter captures 85% or better of particles between the sizes of 0.3 and 10 microns. This may not seem like a significant difference compared to the MERV 8 filter, but a MERV 11 is also more capable of capturing between 65% and 79% of smaller particles.
Can furnace filters be too restrictive?
Burnt out motors and controls can result from too-restrictive filters. Coils, motors, and blowers can also easily become clogged by weak filters creating higher fan usage resulting in higher energy costs.
What Each MERV Rating Means
5-7 MERV – A basic filter that is capable of removing larger particles. However, they aren’t the best when it comes to improving the air quality in your home. These filters are the most affordable ones, but they only protect HVAC systems by filtering pollen, dust mites, and larger debris particles.
What MPR and FPR Ratings Mean
Two other components that are also important to consider when looking at your air filter are the MPR and FPR.
Choosing Your MERV: Which One is Right for You?
Even though MERVs with higher ratings are more efficient, they’re not always the best option! If you have an air filter with a MERV that is too high, you can face complications like overworking your HVAC system as well as restricting airflow.
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.
How long does a MERV 13 filter last?
If you select an air filter with a MERV 13 rating, it can last up to six months before needing to be replaced. The best MERV rating for residential use is the one that adequately cleans the air in your home without decreasing the air flow and straining your HVAC equipment.
What does MERV mean?
MERV stands for minimum efficiency rating value. It’s a nationally recognized measurement system that’s used to rate every air filter. 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. Read More: All About MERV Ratings.
Why is MERV rating important?
Who knew there were so many options for an everyday air filter? One of the most important considerations is the MERV rating because it signifies filtration efficiency.
Is a MERV 8 Air Filter Good Enough?
MERV 8 air filters are very common because it’s a pretty well-rounded option, so you might think that they’re great on price but bad on performance. They are affordable and can provide above average air filtration in homes. We aren’t surprised that MERV 8 air filters are the highest-rated products we sell.
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.
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.
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.
What are MERV filter ratings?
MERV stands for minimum efficiency rating value and is the standard for furnace filtration. The goal is to give consumers an easy to use scale to compare furnace filters.
Do higher MERV filters restrict air flow?
Generally speaking, yes, higher MERV filters restrict air flow. Higher MERV filters have a finer mesh which capture smaller particles.
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 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 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.