Merv 11 Air Filter Rating

Merv otherwise known as minimum efficiency reporting value is a system used to evaluate the efficiency of an air filter based on how effective it is at catching particles of varying sizes.

Merv 11 air filter rating.

Merv air filter ratings range from 1 least efficient captureability to 16 very efficient. Here s what we tell them. The higher the merv rating on a filter the fewer dust particles and other contaminants that can pass through it. In general filters with a rating of merv.

Many homes use filters with a merv rating of 1 4 which mostly filter out dust lint and pollen among other larger common particles they do very little to trap small microparticles. Basically the higher the merv rating the higher the air filtration capabilities of a particular filter. Filters with higher merv ratings trap small particles more effectively than filters with lower merv ratings. Our filters are available in three grades merv 8 merv 11 and merv 13.

Think of merv 8 filters as a good option and merv 11 filters as the better option for normal residential use. The merv rating system is intended to be used to determine the filter s ability to remove particulates from the air. It is an acronym for high efficiency particulate air filter as officially defined by the u s. Also as doors and windows are opened and closed that too will introduce more of that particulate matter.

An air filter s minimum efficiency reporting value merv rating measures how effectively the filter stops dust and other contaminants from passing through the filter and into the air stream. What is a merv rating. A merv 11 filter only needs to stop 20 of particles in the 0 3 to 1 0 micron three to ten times bigger than a covid 19 particle a merv 12 only needs to stop 35 of particles under 0 3 micron and a merv 13 only needs to stop half. Many new jersey homeowners ask us about merv ratings especially when it comes to choosing between merv 8 and merv 11 air filters.

A low merv rating means that the filter does not remove as many particulates from the air. An air filter s merv rating is a scale from 1 16 that describes the minimum efficiency of the air filter. Note with poor air quality more frequent filter changes will be needed. Hepa is a type of pleated mechanical air filter.

What merv rating should i use. This type of air filter can theoretically remove at least 99 97 of dust pollen mold bacteria and any airborne particles with a size of 0 3 microns µm. The other two systems were created by 3m mpr and the home depot fpr to differentiate their offerings.