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Since higher-rate filters allow less air to flow through your furnace, it’s a good idea to check if your system has a maximum MERV rating. The wrong type of air filter can force your furnace to work harder and increase the risk of it breaking down. MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, which is a rating system designed by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers . The rating indicates the size of particles the air filter is designed to capture. Ranging from 1 to 20, the larger the number, the better the filter is at catching small particles.
In general, filters with higher MERV ratings are more effective and improve air quality – but are also more expensive. MERV ratings above 16 are typically used in specialized commercial settings where air filtration is critical, such as hospitals. As a result, you will enjoy cleaner and healthier indoor air for a long time. If you don’t cough, sneeze, or experience respiratory irritation inside your home, then you have good indoor air quality. The filter performs its job well, eliminating dust, dander, and mold.
Disposable Pleated Filters
Prices are comparable to what I’d pay for the same filter at the store. With free shipping at my own custom interval, this is really unbeatable. I was extremely pleased with the customer service that I received. I had purchased the wrong size filter and you guys went above and beyond in order to get me the right ones. But determining which MERV rating will work best isn’t a matter of picking the highest rated filter and calling it a day.
Just because you’ve been buying one brand or one type of filter for a while doesn’t mean it’s the best for your furnace. To help it work more efficiently and last longer, you need to choose filters with the right MERV rating, usually 7-12. You can choose from pleated, fiberglass, and even industrial filters.
What It Can Remove
That’s right—air filters in nearly every size, thickness, material, and MERV rating. The filters of Filterbuy 16x25x1 do a great job of trapping the dust and particles out of deep intake fans and cooling systems, while not even touching your skin. Since they are ultra thin, they can remain inside the unit, safely emitting their very-pure water vapor which removes heavier moisture after diffusing out. A filter that falls within the 8-13 range can remove mold spores, lead dust, cooking dust, flour, hair spray, auto fumes, furniture polish, and welding fumes. If you'd like to know what a MERV rating is, you're in the right place. In short, a MERV rating lets you know what air particle size an air filter will trap.
With a MERV 8 rating and mesh-reinforced construction, these filters block most household particles. Since they come in almost any size, these are my favorite pleated air filters to use. MERV 5 – MERV 8 filters provide good filtration and will remove most pollen, mold spores, and dust mites.
FilterBuy
With the Filter King filter selection tool, you can mark exactly the size, thickness and MERV rating you are looking for. You need a filter that works well with your home’s system and filters out any known allergens or toxins indoors. Higher-rated MERV filters must not only be able to filter out smaller particles but more of them as well. The table below shows the minimum threshold that a filter must perform in order to obtain a specified MERV rating.

If choosing the right air filter for your HVAC system is confusing, you’re not alone! From the right size to the best MERV rating, making sure you have the best air quality in your home or office can be a challenging process. For example, a better MERV rating doesn't always mean a filter is the best option for your oven. The higher MERV rating means that an air filter will capture the most dust, while the lower rating means that a filter will capture the least amount of dust. This rating is more efficient than MERV 8 and 11 with the ability to filter even more allergens from the air.
Do Not Max Out Your Filter
So you should have a good idea of the rating that will be appropriate for your household. You just need to consider type, size, and brand to find the best filter for your furnace. Filters with mid-range MERV ratings from 4-12 are typically used in residential spaces.
Plus, unlike some other air cleaners on the market, they don’t emit ozone – a known lung irritant. The PureAir™ Air Purification System from Lennox is engineered with a MERV 16 filter and combats all three types of indoor air pollutants . Filters given a MERV rating of 1-4 will trap less than 20 percent of particles between 3.0 and 10.0 micron. These filters are ideal for areas with a lot of pollen, carpet fibers, dust mites, sanding dust, and spray paint dust. Everything that the Essential does, so pollen, dust, dust mites, mold, and bacteria.
It should also be noted that filters on the lower end of the MERV scale are not even tested for efficiency at capturing E1 and E2 particles. That doesn’t mean that they won’t capture any E1 or E2 particles – it just means that they aren’t proven to capture them at a specified level. A filter with a MERV rating of around 10 to 12 is sufficient to remove most allergy-causing particles from your home’s air. Using an air filter with a MERV rating of about 10 to 12 is appropriate for filtration against allergens. Using an air filter with a MERV rating of about 5 to 8 is appropriate for most residential homes.

In most cases, you should replace lower MERV filters every month. You might spend less on these filters, but you’ll need to change them far more often than higher-rated filters. While one can’t filter outdoor air, you can filter indoor air! The air in your home is the one place you truly have control over, thanks to filtration.
These scales have different ranges than the MERV rating but typically measure against similar factors. MERV rating is superior because it's the international standard and makes it easier to compare filters from different brands. Filters with a MERV rating of 8-13 are usually higher-end filters for home use or high-quality commercial filters. These filters are typically the right choice for use in homes and many businesses. You don’t want to choose too high of a rating for your unit, or you could damage the HVAC system.

Having lived in city apartments for the previous 20 years made the job a lot harder. We’d always relied on a superintendent to think about the furnace, the water heater, and all the other systems that make a building run. Expert advice from Bob Vila, the most trusted name in home improvement, home remodeling, home repair, and DIY. Filters within a MERV rating of 17 to 20 are almost never needed in a residential home. If you notice any of these signs, or generally feel you can breathe easier when you’re away from home, consider installing an air purifier in your house.
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