A home without pets, smoke or allergies will work well with a MERV value of 1 to 7.If you have pets or someone in your household has significant allergy problems, you can consider a higher MERV value, between 8 and 10. Households with smokers or a wood-burning fireplace must have a filter in MERV 11-13. MERV 11 air filters are a little more expensive than a standard filter, but paying a few extra dollars per filter is usually worth it for the added efficiency. As an expert in the field of air filtration, I'm often asked if it's really necessary to invest in a Merv 11 air filter. The answer is that it depends on your individual situation. Some situations justify a higher Merv 11 rating.
If someone has an allergy or respiratory problem, use a Merv 11 air filter or even a Merv 13 air filter. The same goes for households with smokers or pets, as Merv 11 air filters are better at eliminating odors. These MERV 11 filters capture particulates such as fine dust, pollen and pet dander. Perfect for helping prevent seasonal allergies. What is the filtration efficiency? To be classified as a MERV 8 filter by NAFA (National Air Filtration Association), a filter must filter at least 70% of E3 particles (3.0-10.0 µm) and 20% of E2 particles (1.0-3.0 µm).
In addition to 70% of E3 particles, it also filters 30% of E2 particles and 1.9% of E1 particles (0.3-1.0 µm). As it is a MERV 8 filter, it is not designed to trap the smallest particles that fall into the E1 category, such as pet dander. In addition, after conducting standard dust tests, it was found that Essential had a stopping rate of 81.5%. This means that 81.5% of the dust particles introduced into the filter were successfully filtered out of the air. The MERV 11 filter is ideal for pet owners and people living with certain health conditions, such as mild allergies and mild asthma.
It offers more filtration for cleaner air than the MERV 8, but does not filter as much as the MERV 13 (the highest suggested option for residential use). While the highest merv ratings are the most effective for air quality, they can damage your HVAC system. For most homes and commercial buildings, filters with a merv rating between 8 and 13 will filter the air sufficiently. If germs, mold spores or even wood-burning fireplaces are a cause for concern, MERV 13 is the way to go. Each air filter has its advantages and disadvantages, but both MERV 8 air filters and MERV 11 air filters are suitable for residential use.
Therefore, the MERV rating system provides a standard for the comparison of a variety of furnace filters from different manufacturers. This comparison chart helps highlight the differences between MERV 8 and MERV 11 filters to make it easier to decide which one will work best. MERV, also known as Minimum Efficiency Report Value, is a system used to evaluate the efficiency of an air filter based on its effectiveness in trapping particles of different sizes. At the heart of an optimally functioning HVAC system is an oven filter with the right MERV rating for you.
The higher the MERV rating of a filter, the less dust particles and other contaminants can pass through it. The higher the MERV rating, the more airborne pollutants the air filter can remove before entering your home. If your furnace's MERV rating is too high, it may force it to work too hard and leave it vulnerable to damage. MERV 8 air filters are very common because it is a fairly complete option, so you might think they have a good price but a poor performance.
The MERV 11 will increase indoor air quality by removing 85% of micron-sized air pollutants, maintaining HVAC unit efficiency. Filters that are MERV 16 to 20 are usually only found in hospitals, cleanrooms and nuclear power plants. If you don't own a pet or don't have any health problems affecting your breathing, you can do so with a lower grade MERV 8 filter.
