What MERV rating 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?

Filters within a MERV rating of 17-20 are almost never necessary in a residential home. A MERV rating of 13-16 is considered hospital level air quality, so it is unlikely your home needs any more than that.

Is MERV 8 good enough?

A MERV 8 air filter is efficient at trapping a majority of indoor particulates that could debilitate those with asthma and allergies, or even cause long-term respiratory problems.

Is MERV 11 or 13 better?

The MERV 13 is less popular and is the highest rating that is recommended for residential use. Anything above 13 is mainly used for commercial/industrial purposes. A MERV 11 rated furnace filter can trap the majority of harmful contaminants that are present in the air.

Does MERV 11 restrict airflow?

Be aware, too, that some retailers also use their own rating system instead of MERV. A decade ago, it used to be that if you had an HVAC system that used panel filters rated 6 through 9 MERV, putting in a MERV 11 or higher filter would restrict airflow (known as filter pressure drop).

What MERV rating can my HVAC handle?

The EPA recommends MERV ratings of 9-12 because it is the most effective at keeping your home’s air clean. A filter with this rating will prevent particulates as small as 1 micron from entering your HVAC system. This rating qualifies as HEPA (high-efficiency particulate absorption) level.

Can my HVAC handle a MERV 13 filter?

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.

Can my furnace handle MERV 11?

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.

Can I use MERV 13 in my HVAC?

Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values, or MERV, reports a filter’s ability to capture particles. Filters with MERV-13 or higher ratings can trap smaller particles, including viruses. Many home HVAC systems will have a MERV-8 filter installed as the default.

What’s better MERV 8 or MERV 11?

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. MERV 11 air filters can filter out a large percentage of fine particles, but a MERV 8 air filter can’t.

Is MERV 8 or 11 better?

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. For pet owners specifically, a MERV 8 vs.

What is a MERV 11 furnace filter?

MERV 11 rated air filters have a filtration efficiency of a little over 90%, making them highly efficient. MERV 11 furnace filters effectively trap pollen, dust, lint, dust mites, and mold, along with smoke, pet dander, smog, auto emissions, bacteria, and other such fine particles.

How long do MERV 13 filters last?

For Merv 8, 11 and 13 filters, we recommend that you change your filter at least every 3 months, however changing your filter every 2 months provides better filtration which provides healthier and cleaner air in your home.

Are all MERV 11 filters the same?

A MERV 9 will trap less than 50% of particles sized 1.0-3.0 microns, MERV 10 will stop up to 64%, MERV 11 will get up to 79%, and MERV 12 is capable of catching up to 89%.

What does MERV mean on an AC filter?

Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values, or MERVs, report a filter’s ability to capture larger particles between 0.3 and 10 microns (µm). The higher the MERV rating the better the filter is at trapping specific types of particles.

Are allergen filters bad for HVAC?

Not only that, it’s actually hurting your heating and cooling system and raising your energy bills. According to ENERGY STAR: “A dirty filter will slow down air flow and make the system work harder to keep you warm or cool—wasting energy.

How often do you change a MERV 11 filter?

The MERV rating also determines generally how often to change your furnace filter. You must have a clean filter, MERV 8 filters should be changed every 3-4 months, MERV 10 & 11 filters every 6 months and it’s a good idea to change MERV 16 filters every year.