What is the Meaning of MERV on Air Filters?

Have you ever heard of the acronym MERV and wondered what it stands for? MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, and it is a standard rating for the overall effectiveness of an air filter. It measures how fine the filtration is, or how small the particles the filter can trap. A higher rating means that the filter can capture smaller air particles, ranging from 0.3 to 10 microns (µm). To find the right air filtration system for your home that removes specific contaminants while allowing your HVAC system to work as intended, you'll need to work with indoor air quality experts.

Unlike other scales, which emphasize the need to increase the amount of particles that pass through an air filter, the MERV was designed to offer a balance between particle filtering and energy efficiency. For a permanently installed residential air conditioner, the range ranges from five to twelve. MERV 11 filters are slightly more expensive, costing just a few dollars, but they can improve indoor air quality and help relieve people with respiratory problems. MERV 13 air filters even provide additional filtration power against fine particles compared to MERV 11 filters.

Choosing the right MERV rating for your oven filter has a big impact on indoor air quality, your air conditioning system and, most importantly, the well-being of your family. As long as you have an air filter installed in the air return system, there is no way to avoid the pressure drop. Filters with a MERV rating of 8 to 13 are usually high-end filters for household use or high-quality commercial filters. In 1987, the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers designed the MERV rating scale to provide a more accurate picture of an air filter's capabilities.

This scale ranges from 1 to 13 in most homes and other residential buildings, although filters used in HVAC systems to improve air quality are rarely inferior to MERV 8.Understanding what a MERV rating is and how it works is essential to ensure that your home's air is well filtered without overloading your HVAC system. With this knowledge, you can make an informed decision about which type of filter is best for your home and family.