What is the best rating for air filters?

What is the best rating for air filters?

MERV Ratings are a rating system designed by ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers) to report the effectiveness of air filters. Filters are rated with a MERV score from 1 to 20 with 20 being the highest.

What MERV rating should I use for Covid 19?

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.

What does MERV 13 mean in air filters?

minimum efficiency reporting value
MERV stands “minimum efficiency reporting value” and a filter receives a MERV rating as determined by the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). 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 rating better?

The higher the MERV rating, the more efficient the air filter is at catching harmful pollutants in your home’s air. MERV 5–8 (good): These filters are better at catching small particles (3–10 microns) like mold spores, hair spray, dust mites and animal dander. MERV 9–12 (better): The best option for residential use.

Will MERV 13 hurt my HVAC?

Filters within a MERV rating of 17-20 are almost never necessary in a residential home. A MERV rating of 13-16 is considered hospital level air quality, so it is unlikely your home needs any more than that.

Is MERV 12 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….Learn how to maintain your. home and HVAC this fall.

MERV	Minimum Particle Size
9–12	3.0–1.0 μm
13–16	1.0–0.3 μm
17–20	< 0.3 μm