What MERV Rating Should I Use at Home?

Types of HVAC Filters

There are many different types of HVAC filters. Most homeowners and renters use the cheapest filter of the correct size for their unit. However, these cheaper filters are not nearly as effective at cleaning your air. Most HVAC systems can take different types of filters, as long as they are the appropriate size. You can also get an upgrade to your system so that you can use a more effective filter.

The most common types of filters are:

• Fiberglass
• Electrostatic
• Pleated

Fiberglass filters are the cheapest, and they do the least for your indoor air quality. They have to be replaced every month, so even though the per unit cost is low, they could cost you more over time.

Electrostatic filters are reusable, which is cost saving as well as better for the environment. They have to be cleaned with water and possibly a mild detergent once a month. Unfortunately, although these are the best for the environment, they are also highly ineffective at filtering out small particles.

The best HVAC filters are pleated. A pleated filter has more surface area to catch particles from air circulating in the unit. Pleated filters are often one-inch filters, coming in sizes to fit most HVAC units. Some higher end units may require a 4 to 6-inch pleated filter. If anyone in your household has allergies, asthma, or other breathing difficulties, you can opt to have your HVAC system upgraded to accept the thicker pleated filters.

Choosing an HVAC Filter

There are a lot of factors to consider when you are choosing the right HVAC filter. You may be able to determine the right filter for your family by considering the following factors.

Does anyone in your home have medical concerns? Indoor air quality directly affects certain medical conditions, including:

• Allergies
• Asthma
• COPD
• Other pulmonary conditions

Higher rated filters are best for people with these medical concerns. The better the filter, the cleaner the air. The cleaner the air, the easier everyone breathes.
You also need to think about your household’s habits, as well as basics about your home. For example:

• Do you have pets?
• Do you often keep your doors and windows open?
• Are you a smoker?

If the answer to any of these is “yes,” you should get a higher rated filter. These factors add to the particles in your home, which in turn are going through the filter. In addition, if you have several of these factors in your household you may need to change your filter more frequently than recommended.

What is a MERV Rating?

So how are filters rated? The Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, or MERV rating is the standard for ranking filters for air quality. This scale was designed by the American Society of Heating, Cooling, and Air-Conditioning Engineers in 1987. The higher the MERV rating, the smaller the particles filtered out of the air.

The MERV rating is based on the effectiveness of the filter and how many particles are removed from the air.

• MERV 1-4: Carpet fibers, cockroach debris, dust mites, pollen, sanding dust, spray paint dust, and textile fibers.
• MERV 5-8: Dust mites, dusting aids, fabric protector, hair spray, mold spores, and pet dander.
• MERV 9-12: Humidifier dust, nebulizer droplets, legionella
• MERV 13-16: Bacteria, saliva droplets, and dust from smoke.

As a general rule, residences do not use higher than MERV 8 filters. We do recommend that everyone uses filters that have at least an 8 MERV rating. These filters will remove the majority of pollutants from your indoor air. If you have serious medical conditions making it difficult to breathe, you might want to get a filter with MERV 9-12 rating. MERV 13 to 16 ratings are usually reserved for filters for labs, hospitals, and operating rooms.

Why We Recommend MERV Rating of 8 or Higher

The better your filter, the cleaner your air. There are several benefits of using a MERV 8 filter. The most significant of these are:

1. Protects your HVAC system from dust clogs and corrosive particles.
2. Reduces dust in your home making for less housework.
3. Improving indoor air quality, especially when you are spending a lot of time at home, is important for your health.
4. Cost effective, and only need to be changed about every three months.

Just a few of the health benefits of cleaner indoor air include:

• Reduced allergy and asthma symptoms
• Easier breathing
• Fewer respiratory infections or respiratory illness

A MERV 8 filter will provide all of these benefits and more. Going with a cheaper, less effective filter could put your family and HVAC system at risk.

Getting a New MERV 8 HVAC Filter Installed

Getting your furnace filter replaced is part of the basic HVAC maintenance that should be done on a routine basis. It is basic preventative maintenance for your air conditioner. While we are installing your new HVAC filter, we can also inspect your unit and provide other maintenance.

It is also very easy to upgrade your filter. Most HVAC systems are able to accept different types of filters as long as they are the same size. If your system won’t allow for a MERV 8 filter, we can upgrade your system to take the better filter.

We also offer indoor air quality solutions that can further improve the air quality in your home. This is highly recommended if you have a smoker in the home, or if anyone has serious health conditions. These indoor air quality systems will further improve the quality of your indoor air, as well as take some of the burden off of your HVAC filter.