Have you ever thought about what type of air filter you are picking up for your home? I’m not talking about the brand you are getting, but rather the MERV rating that you are getting. The Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (or MERV) rating is a rating system used to compare filters made by various manufacturers. MERV ratings will range from 1 (low efficiency; minimum filtration) to 20 (highest efficiency; highest filtration).
For most household uses, the highest MERV rating used will be MERV 13 filters. Keep in mind that a MERV rating higher than 13 could negatively affect some HVAC systems, so it is advisable to verify that your unit can handle a higher rating before you make your purchase.
According to Alex Hertzog, our in-house air filtration expert, MERV 11 filters are recommended.
“The MERV 11 air filters remove a higher percentage of contaminants in the air that will increase indoor air quality and maintain the efficiency of the HVAC unit. It is also highly recommended if there are pets in the home, which can greatly reduce the air quality in your home.”
The chart below shows what you can remove from your air with MERV 8, 11 and 13 filters.
FiltersFast.com has a solution in various MERV ratings. For your home however, the better option is the FiltersFast MERV 11 air filters. Guaranteed to effectively reduce dust, pollen and other allergens from your indoor air, you will get a quality air filter without paying a high price. Verify the size that you will need and place your order. Use our Auto Delivery system and get 5% off and the convenience of having a replacement air filter sent to your home at your own frequency.
The FiltersFast MERV 11 represents a better option for your home than a MERV 8 and lower. Know the MERV rating you are getting and what it will filter out from your air.
Katie says
Ralph,
A MERV 15 Air Filters will remove 85-95% of particles the size of 0.3-1.0 microns. We do not have enough information to confirm that a MERV 15 will remove coronavirus. MERV 15 filters are not recommended for residential application. Please consult with a HVAC professional to find out what MERV rating your system is equipped to handle.
RALPH DiGENNARO says
will a merv 15 filter remove caronaviris
Katie says
Allison,
We’re glad you learned something from reading our blog! We would recommend consulting a heating an air professional to make sure your system can handle MERV 11.
Allison says
Thanks for the info. I have always used a lesser MERV rated filter and just changed it allot. I just built a new house and have no carpet, one cat that mostly stays outside so not much hair. I think I am going to pull the trigger on two K&N filters that are re-useable like the car & truck air filters. They say they are MERV 11 so hopefully my new AC units will be fine with that rating.
Katie says
Hi Kathie,
That is a great question! It is recommended that you change your air filter every 1-3 months. How often you change it is completely up to you. There are many factors as to why you would need to change it more frequently. A couple of reasons for needing to changing it more frequently could be if you have pets, an older home, or people in your home suffer from allergies. We would recommend checking it every once in a while and changing as often as works for you.