When it comes to selecting the right air filter for your home, it can be difficult to know which one is best for you. The MERV rating system is designed to help you make an informed decision. Overall, the best MERV rating for a home is between 8 and 10. These filters will capture a large part of the particles in the air and improve the interior. A MERV rating of between 6 and 13 generally meets the needs of most residences.
This range offers a good balance between air filtration, airflow and affordability. If you select an air filter with a MERV 13 rating, it can last up to six months before you need to replace it. For oven filters, our recommended MERV rating ranges from 6 to 8 to strike a great balance between maximum oven efficiency and home comfort. In most cases, a MERV 11 air filter isn't too tall for residential use.
Generally speaking, anything under a MERV 13 air filter should provide very efficient air purification in a home without affecting airflow. Meanwhile, air filters with a MERV 14 rating or higher are designed for commercial HVAC systems that can handle the coarsest filter material. Finer particles will have no problem passing through a fiberglass filter, and those that are larger will filter less effectively than with a pleated filter. For example, if you have someone in your household who suffers from allergies, you may want a higher MERV rating.
Based on the above-mentioned characteristics, a MERV 8 is considered a superior filtration compared to air filters with a lower MERV rating. Filters with higher MERV ratings trap small particles more effectively than filters with lower MERV ratings. Obtaining filters with the correct MERV ratings is essential to ensuring that the air is well filtered without overloading the HVAC system. MERV 8 air filters are very common because they are quite a complete option, so you might think that they are excellent in price but poor in performance.
Unlike other scales, which emphasized the need to increase the number of particles passing through an air filter, MERV was designed to offer a balance between particle filtering and energy efficiency. Filters with a MERV rating of 8 to 13 are usually high-end filters for domestic use or high-quality commercial filters. Raising just three levels of MERV rating can be a smart move that makes air cleaner or a detrimental option for your entire HVAC system when considering MERV 8 versus MERV 11 airflow capabilities. While you may automatically think that a higher MERV rating means a better air filter, that's not always the case.
One thing to keep in mind is that a MERV 11 air filter may need to be changed a little more frequently than a MERV 8 air filter. Choosing the right MERV rating is an important decision in terms of total cost, air quality, and product durability. When selecting an air filter for your home, it's important to consider all of these factors before making your purchase.
