What MERV Filter Should I Buy?
Confused about which MERV Filter you should purchase? Don’t worry! Continue reading to solve all your concerns!
Introduction
The choice of air filters available when replacing your air filter or furnace filters is overwhelming. And for that, it is necessary to seek more information about the perfect air filter for your homes or offices. When it comes to air filters, understanding MERV Filters is an absolute must. MERV is the abbreviation of Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value.
Generally, a higher MERV rating filter can trap smaller air particles. However, the MERV rating affects the frequency of furnace filter replacement. The MERV rating is so low, and the dust particles it captures become smaller as the value gets lower. As a result, more money is invested, even though it is not worth it. Therefore, you should always check the MERV ratings and select a suitable air filter. The typical contaminants and the suitable application of different MERV ratings are listed below:
MERV 1 to Merv 4
The average size of their particles is greater than 10.0 μm. Dust from spray paint, dust mites, sanding dust, carpet fibers, and cockroach excrement are some of the common problems it solves. A typical application includes residential window AC units.
MERV 5 to Merv 8
Their average particle size ranges from 10.0-3.0μm. These particles carry mold spores, fabric protectors, cleaning solutions, cat and dog dander, and dusting aids. They are generally used for residential, industrial, and commercial purposes.
MERV 9 to Merv 12
The particle size ranges from 3.0 to 1.0μm. Auto-emission particles, humidifiers, lead dust, milled flour, bacteria, and even nebulizer droplets make up the typically controlled contaminants. A typical application includes hospital settings, commercials, and high-ranking residential.
MERV 13 to Merv 16
The particle size ranges from 1.0–0.3 μm. These particles carry smoke, Bacteria, sneeze droplets, cooking oil, paint pigments, insecticide dust, and face powder. A typical application includes Hospital & general surgery.
MERV 14-20 and higher
It may seem to you that the higher, the better, but that doesn’t work in most cases. It is costly, and also, they aren’t energy efficient. Their pros include superior levels of filtration and various detection of small microbes like bacteria and viruses.
Best MERV Filter For You
High MERV ratings aren’t always better. Although higher MERV ratings can trap more particles, they can also increase energy costs and strain your HVAC unit. You should aim for a MERV rating of 8-10 for your home’s filters to capture a lot of airborne particles and improve indoor air quality without significantly increasing energy expenses.
As you already know, MERV 25 and 20 are helpful but less energy-efficient and expensive. And you might have difficulty maintaining it. In the case of offices and hospitals, you can use MERV 11-16 air filters. These are always specialized in detecting small particles like bacteria, nebulizer drops, lead dust, etc.
Conclusion
Air filters must be changed regularly to keep your air conditioner running efficiently. Failure to change your air filters can cause issues, including increased energy usage and higher utility bills. The MERV value of a filter should be 13 or lower in most cases since filters with high MERV values can cause problems with filters.
Choosing filters with lower MERV values can also negatively impact your health. Therefore, before making a choice, ensure that you have a solid understanding of the environment in which it will be implemented. Make sure to get in touch with Mervfilters if you are having difficulty with it.
