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When we set out to build a new construction household , we had a lot of research to do . Having lived in city apartments for the late 20 years made the caper a circumstances harder . We ’d always swear on a super to think about the furnace , the water heater , and all the other systems that make a building run . So we had a lot of catching up to do .
Now that our home has been work up , we have begin doing regular maintenance on our HVAC system . In the process , we ’ve been face with something call a MERV filter .
Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila
MERV ? Like , Griffin ? Or is that some golem from Star Wars ? I had no idea . So for the uninitiate ( like I was ) , here ’s a quick priming on MERV military rating and what they mean :
What is the Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) Rating on Filters?
MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value . MERV evaluation ambit from 1–20 . The higher the MERV rating on a filter , the fewer junk atom and other contaminant can pass through it . TheAmerican Society of Heating ,
Refrigerating and Air - Conditioning Engineers(ASHRAE ) design the MERV scale to represent a filter ’s worst possible performance at removing molecule 0.3 to 10 micrometer in size ( that ’s really little ! ) .
Some of the common corpuscle thatfurnace filtersare tested for include pollen , dust touch , cloth and carpeting fibers , mold spores , detritus , preferent hackles , bacteria and tobacco bullet . Most residential systems can adequately remove airborne contaminants with a filter rated MERV 7 - 12 . MERV 13 - 20 is typically found in infirmary and general surgical process options .
Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila
Understanding the MERV Air Filter Rating List
To learn more about which MERV valuation is best for your needs , consult the following general guidelines :
MERV 1-4
MERV 5 to 8
MERV 9 to 12
MERV 13 to 16
MERV 17 to 20
The Best MERV Rating for Residential HVAC System Use
According to the ASHRAE , the best rating for residential HVAC systems is MERV 13 . But before you advance your filter , check that your specific system can accommodate that valuation . A higher MERV rating often entail lower air flow , which can do the system to work hard — employ more vigour — to do its occupation . If your rest home HVAC organisation is not subject of handle MERV 13 , opt for a filter with the next high rating possible .
To up theindoor aura qualityeven more , homeair purifiersthat employHEPA(high - efficiency particulate air ) filter can theoretically remove 99.97 percentage cast , pollen , bacteria , and other mote as small as 0.3 micron , grant to theU.S. Environmental Protection Agency , which would fall into the MERV 16 rating . HEPA filters are often weigh the in force when it comes to removing contaminant from at - dwelling melodic line .
When to Change Your MERV Air Filter
Filters with high MERV ratings need to bechangedmore frequently ( at least every three month ) to fend off restrict airflow that can cause your system to work inefficiently or maybe even damage it .
We discover that our MERV filter are a custom size of it , which makes them about three times more expensive than stock - size of it filters you could grease one’s palms at big box stores . When you ’re changing filter four time a year , that really adds up . So if you ’re influence with a constructor to plan a system , keep that in nous . As has happened so many times in this home - building journeying , I discover I do n’t even screw what I do n’t know ! But figuring out what that MERV rating on my filter actually stand for does make me take a breath a little easier .
Final Thoughts
Filter applied science has grown leaps and bounds over the year , and MERV evaluation are designed to facilitate us nail down the most in force — and efficient — air filter options for warming and cooling system and more . In general , most residential organisation can adequately remove airborne contaminants with a filter rat MERV 7 - 12 , while MERV 13 - 20 is typically found in hospital and pharmaceutical manufacture scene .
FAQs
You might think that a high MERV valuation would automatically be full , but it ’s not . The higher the MERV rating , the humble the pores are for the air to hang through an HVAC filter . This can create more resistance in airflow than a organization is designed to manage , thus making it inefficient . Reducing the airflow in your system can actually exasperate the air lineament in your home and put a prejudicial amount of pressure on the lover of your furnace or AC system . So it is deserving doing some research . Find out what the highest MERV - betray filter is that still allow for maximum airflow in your system .
While MERV 13 and 14 are recommended by the ASHRAE , it ’s good to select a filter with the high MERV rating potential for your specific HVAC organization . When it occur to homeair purifiers , HEPA filters are considered the good at take out at least 99.97 percent of airborne contaminant 0.3 microns in size , which is tantamount to MERV 16 .
Though MERV 13 is suggested by the American Society of Heating , Refrigerating , and Air - Conditioning Engineers ( ASHRAE ) , it might not be the most effective option for some residential HVAC organisation . In fact , MERV 11 may even be too restrictive . It ’s best to comply with furnace manufacturing business recommendations or look up an HVAC professional to pick up down exactly which MERV rating is best for your specific system .
Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila
MERV 8 filter are n’t the good selection for residential HVAC systems , grant the ASHRAE . Though MERV 8 is known to be good at dribble out contaminant such as pollen , dust mites , sawdust , mold spores , and lint from the air , higher MERV ratings will clean the melody even further . MERV 13 filters , for example , also cancel out bacteria , tobacco plant sess , auto smoke , insecticide dust , pet dander , and more . , which is why it ’s the recommended rating of the ASHRAE .
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