Guide to the Furnace Filter MERV Rating

Guide to the Furnace Filter MERV Rating

Guide to the Furnace Filter MERV Rating

What Is a MERV Rating?

MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values) is an industry-wide standard designed to measure the efficiency of furnace and air conditioner filters. According to MERV, each filter produced in the industry is rated with a number from one to 16. Filters with a MERV rating of 1 are the least efficient, while filters with a rating of 16 are the most efficient. MERV-rated filters of 13 or greater will remove a wide array of contaminants, including pollen, mold spores, pet dander, organic vapors, smoke, and even bacteria. Filters with a MERV rating lower than 6 are quite inefficient and will cause the coils in your furnace to collect dust and require cleaning much more often. For this reason, HVAC contractors will often recommend filters with a low MERV rating (under the pretence of greater airflow) so that they can also sell you a furnace cleaning system with the filter.

Impact of MERV Ratings on Furnace Filter Airflow

It is true that the MERV rating of your filter will impact the amount of air that is able to flow through the filter and then through your ducts and vents, due to the size of the pores in the air filter. Filters with higher MERV ratings have smaller pores, allowing fewer contaminants but also less air through the filter. Because of the impact on airflow, it's important to be mindful when determining the MERV rating of the filter you wish to buy. If you use a filter with too high of a MERV rating, the filter will place added strain on your air conditioner or furnace, meaning your home will not be properly heated or cooled because your furnace/AC unit cannot force enough air through the air ducts. In order to remove the maximum number and level of contaminants from your air, it's important to use a filter with the highest MERV rating possible for your specific furnace or AC unit. Most furnace/AC units will include documentation providing a general guideline regarding the highest MERV rating that particular unit is able to handle.

Common MERV Ratings

For residential units, the most common MERV ratings used are 8 and 11. These filters will remove the most widespread household air contaminants at efficient levels but may not remove all contaminants present in the home, such as tobacco smoke and bacteria. Filters with higher MERV ratings of 12 or 13 are capable of removing these smaller, more difficult contaminants, in addition to larger contaminants, resulting in greater overall air quality in the home.

One of the most important things to remember about your furnace filter (regardless of the MERV rating) is that keeping a clean, unclogged filter in your furnace or AC will ensure that your unit will run at maximum efficiency while also keeping the air in your home as clean as possible. In addition, replacing your filter frequently will also protect your unit from unnecessary and untimely repair costs. While there are certain variables that determine the specific replacement frequency required for your filter (such as overall running time on the unit, the type of flooring in the house, and the presence of pets), it is important to keep in mind that most filters should be replaced at least every three months for optimal performance while filters with a higher MERV rating (12 or 13) will likely need to be changed even more frequently.

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