What Does Merv Stand For On Air Filters? Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values, or MERVs, report a filter’s ability to capture larger particles between 0.3 and 10 microns (µm). This value is helpful in comparing the performance of different filters.
Is MERV 13 too high for home? 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.
What is a good MERV rating for air filters? Using an air filter with a MERV rating of about 5 to 8 is appropriate for most residential homes. MERV 5 – MERV 8 filters provide good filtration and will remove most pollen, mold spores, and dust mites.
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.
Does MERV 13 filter Covid?
What kind of filter should I use in my home HVAC system to help protect my family from COVID-19? 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.
Can my HVAC handle 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.
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.
What MERV rating is HEPA?
High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters are not MERV-rated, but a HEPA filter is typically considered as MERV 17 to 20, which is the highest group in MERV ratings.
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.
Can my furnace handle MERV 14?
The ideal MERV filters for both air filtering and furnace efficiency are 7-13, experts say. These filters can be used without any modifications to your equipment. Your system may handle MERV 14-16 with no discernable stress. However, many residential systems require modifications to pull air through these filters.
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.
How long do MERV 11 filters last?
The basic recommendation for furnace filters replacement is every 3-4 months for MERV 8, every 6 months MERV 10 and 11 and every year for MERV 16. There are other several factors to consider when determining when to change your home air filter.
What is the difference between MERV 11 and MERV 12?
Luckily, MERV 11-rated filters handle those particles — such as pet hair and dust mites — with ease. Likewise, MERV 12 filters catch about the same types of particles. The difference between 11 and 12, therefore, is quite negligible. We do not carry MERV 12; MERV 11 does just as good a job.
Do HEPA filters stop coronavirus?
When used properly, air cleaners and HVAC filters can help reduce airborne contaminants including viruses in a building or small space. By itself, air cleaning or filtration is not enough to protect people from COVID-19.
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.
Is HEPA better than MERV?
High Efficiency Particulate Air or HEPA have an even higher performance than MERV 16. While a MERV 16 filter captures >95% of particles in the entire test range (0.3-10.0 microns), a HEPA filter captures 99.97% of particles with a size of 0.3 microns.
Is MERV 14 too restrictive?
MERV 14 is too strong for most home HVAC systems. An excellent home filter is the MERV 13 Titanium. And these are some of the best on the market. Explore our MERV 13 Titanium filters to find a size that fits your home.
Does MERV 16 filter coronavirus?
(One study found it to be between . 07 and . 09 μm.) The diagram below demonstrates that MERV 16 filters trap up to 96% of virus-sized particles*, to help prevent the proliferation of airborne viruses in the home.
What MERV rating does Lennox recommend?
We advise buying no less than a MERV 13 if the system allows for it.
What is the difference between MERV 10 and MERV 11?
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’s better than a HEPA filter?
ULPA filters trap more and smaller particulate matter than HEPA filters. ULPA filters are 99.999% effective at removing submicron particulate matter of 0.12-micron diameter or larger, while HEPA filters are 99.97% effective for eliminating particulate matter of 0.3-micron diameter or larger.
What does MERV 12 mean?
A filter with a MERV rating of nine to 12 captures particles greater than one micrometer. This includes most dust and common pollutants. Hospital laboratories and superior residential air conditioners fall within this range.
What does MERV 11 filter mean?
A MERV 11 filter traps all that stuff plus pet dander, smoke, smog, and airbornes from coughs and sneezes. A MERV 11 is a must if you have kids or pets. It will filter out a lot of the most common air pollutants and irritants. Allergy sufferers definitely need one of these too.
What does MERV 11 mean in air filters?
The MERV 11 will increase indoor air quality by removing 85% of micron sized contaminants in the air which maintains the efficiency of the HVAC unit. … It is also highly recommended if there are pets in the home which can greatly reduce the air quality indoors.
What MERV rating should I use for my 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.
What MERV rating does American Standard recommend?
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.