Is a MERV 11 filter too restrictive?
In most cases, a MERV 11 air filter isn’t too high for residential use. Generally speaking, anything under a MERV 13 air filter should provide very efficient air purification in a home without impacting airflow.
How do I know what air filter I need?
Simply, you need the filter size that fits in your air return. You can typically find that size on the side of the air filter that you already have in use. This size will be the nominal size, which means it is rounded from its actual size. This is the size you click on at secondnature.com.
What level MERV filter should I use?
According to the ASHRAE, the best rating for residential HVAC systems is MERV 13. But before you upgrade your filter, make sure your specific system can accommodate that rating. A higher MERV rating often means lower airflow, which can cause the system to work harder—use more energy—to do its job.
Is a MERV 12 filter too restrictive?
While the highest MERV ratings are the most effective for air quality, they can harm your HVAC system. A higher MERV rating means a higher resistance, which means less airflow.
So what does MERV stand for anyways?
| MERV | Minimum Particle Size |
|---|---|
| 9–12 | 3.0–1.0 μm |
| 13–16 | 1.0–0.3 μm |
| 17–20 | < 0.3 μm |
Will MERV 13 damage my HVAC?
What Are MERV 13 Air Filters? MERV 13 air filters are the highest-rated air filters for home use. Any air filter with a rating higher than 13 will restrict air flow to the point of which could cause damage to your HVAC system, resulting in an added expense to fix it.
Can an air filter be too strong?
When it comes to high-efficiency filters, such as the HEPA filter, you can have too much of a good thing. Too strong a filter can damage your HVAC system.
What does MERV 8 mean?
A MERV 8 rated filter captures at least 84.9% of particles between the sizes of 0.3 and 10 microns. This is typically good enough to get the job done for the average home. However, a MERV 8 filter captures less than 20% of particles smaller than 0.3 microns.
What happens if air filter is too big?
The biggest concern when you use the wrong size air filter is that it may not effectively prevent dust from building up on your HVAC system’s motors and blowers. This dirties up your furnace which could affect its performance or possibly harm the system’s internal components, leading to costly repairs or replacements.
Are pleated filters bad for AC?
Pleated filters are bad for your system because they block too much air, forcing the HVAC motor to work harder to pull in the air it needs and burning it out faster.
Is MERV 11 OK for my furnace?
Increased usage can lead to more wear and tear, so make sure to regularly maintain your furnace. MERV 11 filters however, are not considered to be too high for residential use.
Are MERV 14 filters bad for HVAC?
The abbreviation stands for Minimum Effective Reporting Value. In other words, it’s a measurement showing how small the holes are in the filter. The higher the MERV number, the smaller the holes, and the less that can pass through. Ultimately, this is what makes MERV 14 filters not a good choice for home use.
Is MERV 11 or 13 better?
MERV 11 furnace filters have a particle arrestance of a little over 90%. In comparison, MERV 13 HVAC filters have a particle arrestance of around 98%. Naturally, it is significantly more efficient. MERV 11 rated air filters are ideal for those who live in a moderately polluted area, have mild allergies, or own a pet.
What MERV Can my AC handle?
The EPA recommends MERV ratings of 9-12 because it is the most effective at keeping your home’s air clean. A filter with this rating will prevent particulates as small as 1 micron from entering your HVAC system. This rating qualifies as HEPA (high-efficiency particulate absorption) level.
How do I know my HVAC MERV rating?
To determine the best MERV rating for your home and HVAC system, start with the owner’s manual. Look in the manual for the listed maximum MERV rating. Using a filter with a value higher than the recommended limit immediately affects the system’s efficiency and will ultimately lead to costly future repairs.
Does MERV 13 filter coronavirus?
What kind of filter should I use in my home HVAC system to help protect my family from COVID-19? Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values, or MERV, reports a filter’s ability to capture particles. Filters with MERV-13 or higher ratings can trap smaller particles, including viruses.
Do HEPA filters stop coronavirus?
Portable air cleaners and HVAC filters can reduce indoor air pollutants, including viruses, that are airborne. By themselves, portable air cleaners and HVAC filters are not enough to protect people from the virus that causes COVID-19.
What is the difference between MERV 13 and MERV 14?
MERV rating 13-16
MERV 13-16 filters are capable of trapping 90% or more of particles in the 1.0-10.0 micron range. MERV 13 will prevent less than 75% of the 0.3-1.0 micron particles from passing through, MERV 14 will get up to 84%, MERV 15 up to 94% and MERV 16 can trap 95% or more of the smallest particles.
What MERV is HEPA filter?
MERV 17
A HEPA is the creme de la creme of air filters with an equivalent rating of a MERV 17 or higher. A HEPA filter at a MERV 17 rating will trap 99.97% of air particles that are 0.3 microns in size, but capture an even higher percentage of particles smaller or larger than that size.
Is MERV 13 the same as HEPA?
A MERV 13 filter is a step in the right direction and captures more particles than a typical MERV 8 filter. However, it is not as good at capturing small virus sized particles like a HEPA can. A MERV 13 will trap less than 75% of air particles that are 0.3-1.0 micron in size (the coronavirus is 0.1 microns).
Is higher MERV better?
Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) ratings indicate how effective air filters are at trapping airborne particulates, such as dust, dirt and pollen. The higher the MERV rating, the fewer particles are able to pass through.
