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If you stay up-to-date on your HVAC system’s workings, you have probably encountered the term ‘MERV rating’ while searching for air filters. A MERV rating refers to a filter’s overall effectiveness.
Each filter has a different level of efficiency. You need a filter that works well with your home’s system and filters out any known allergens or toxins indoors.
But when selecting an air filter, don’t just pick the one with the highest MERV rating. Atglen’s HVAC experts provided a helpful guide below.
What Is a MERV Rating?
Air filters function as a ‘catch-all’ for unwanted particles and microscopic debris in a building’s air circulation system. As the system pulls in air, the air filter traps these particles inside its fibers. When the air circulates back out inside your house, it has better indoor air quality.
If you don’t cough, sneeze, or experience respiratory irritation inside your home, then you have good indoor air quality. The filter performs its job well, eliminating dust, dander, and mold. Therefore, it has a high MERV rating.
The acronym MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. A MERV rating is a system that measures an air filter’s efficiency at removing certain particles from the air. Most filters display their MERV rating on their packaging.
The MERV Rating System
How does the MERV rating system work?
It uses numbers between 1 and 16 to determine how well an air filter does its job. MERV 1 has the lowest rating, with lots of particles escaping its fibers. MERV 16 boasts the highest proficiency at eliminating particles from a building’s air circulation.
However, don’t add a MERV 16 filter to your shopping list just yet. Just because it has the highest efficiency doesn’t mean it fits your home’s system. While filters rated with higher numbers perform better, any filters with a rating over 13 can damage your residential HVAC system.
MERVs over 12 work well in commercial or industrial buildings, like hospitals. Your home shouldn’t contain the same dangerous particles as an industrial structure. It also doesn’t need the level of sterility required at hospitals.
While they filter out 95% of the particles in the air, they also force your heating and cooling system to work too hard. Some brands design MERV 13 filters for residential use. If you want to use a MERV 13 filter, ask an HVAC specialist whether your system can handle it.
Which MERV Rating Should You Choose?
For residential systems like yours, your best match is between MERV 8 and 12. Filters with these numbers remove common household allergens and irritants like:
- Laundry lint
- Cloth fibers
- Mold
- Pollen
- Dust mites
- Pet dander
The air you breathe indoors remains breathable without adding strain to your HVAC system.
Do you have to pick the filter with the highest MERV rating? No, you can pick a lower rating.
MERVs 1 through 4 primarily consists of fiberglass. If your HVAC system struggles to pull air through filters with higher MERV ratings, then low-scale filters can help.
However, using a filter with a rating below 8 can decrease your air quality. Your home’s refrigerating and air conditioning systems also suffer long-term.
Quality air filters keep your ductwork and vents free from microscopic debris buildup. If your system works too hard with a MERV 8, contact an HVAC specialist to diagnose the problem.
MERV 8
MERV 8 is the lowest recommended air filter for most households. It eliminates a modest amount of particles like mold, pollen, and dust. If you and your family members have no known allergies or respiratory health concerns, then a MERV 8 filter will serve you well; it sets the standard for a typical residence.
MERV 11
MERV 11 filters eradicate even smaller particles than MERV 8s. They remove irritants like car pollution, dust mites, pet dander, and dust that affect your respiratory health.
Choose a MERV 11 if you have pets, allergies, or other respiratory problems. If you just want to improve your overall air quality without straining your HVAC system, then this rating does the job well.
MERV 12
MERV 12 holds the highest recommended rating for household use. It captures pollutants that get past most other filters. However, its efficiency ranks only slightly higher than a MERV 11.
In most cases, you get the same benefits from an 11 as a 12.
When Should You Change Your Filters?
The frequency with which you change your filter depends on its MERV rating. For example, if you have a MERV 8, change your filter no less than every three months. However, you get better results with changes every month or two.
MERVs 10 through 12 can last up to six months, but changing them every three or four months improves air quality. Perform a monthly visual check if you aren’t sure whether your filter needs a change. If it appears caked with particles and has a brown tint, go ahead and change it regardless.
Clean air filters keep your air breathable and help the inner workings of your HVAC system remain clean. As debris collects on an air filter, your system fights against increased air resistance to pull air through the ducts. This raises your power bill and causes wear and tear on your HVAC parts.
In short, you breathe easier and save money with regular air conditioning maintenance.
Get Top-of-the-Line Service From Topline Heating & Air
Do you know the highest MERV rating your HVAC system can handle? Are you looking to improve your air quality and energy efficiency?
Look no further than Topline Heating & Air! Our experienced HVAC professionals can answer all your questions during routine maintenance checks.
We provide expert HVAC services to Honey Brook, PA, Lancaster, PA, and surrounding areas. Our 24/7 customer service line stays open year-round. Schedule your maintenance check at (717) 628-6825 today!