The indoor air quality of your home is very important to the health and well-being of you and your family. Your air filters play a huge role in determining how clean your air is, so it is important to know how to select an appropriate one for your home.
Minimum efficiency reporting value, or MERV, ratings are used to measure the ability of different air filters to remove dust and other particles from your air as it passes through. Reviewing the MERV of various filters helps inform homeowners how filters compare to each other without having to wade through claims made by the manufacturers.
MERV is determined by how well a filter is able to capture particles of varying sizes in a controlled test. A pre-determined amount of particles are sent through the filter and a laser counter compares the number of particles before and after the air travels through. Then a MERV Parameters chart is used to identify the rating.
Filters with ratings between 1 and 4 are commonly found in new residential spaces. These do virtually nothing to purify your air, however, and are typically designed only to keep larger particles from circulating through and damaging your HVAC equipment.
Filters rated between 5 and 8 are better and will capture a much higher percentage of pollutants. Filters with a 9 to 12 rating are best for homeowners who want the best dust control available. It is important to replace your filters regularly so that the captured debris doesn’t accumulate and form a thick screen that actually makes it difficult for air to pass through.
High efficiency particulate air, or HEPA, filters are rated from 13 to 16 and are commonly found in hospitals or other environments where super clean air is imperative. They are not commonly found in residential spaces because of the extensive ductwork modifications that are frequently necessary.
For more information about MERV ratings and how they affect your indoor air quality, contact Russell’s Heating and Coolingtoday. We have proudly served all of Hampton Roads area since 1977.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
Russell’s Heating & Cooling services the Chesapeake, Virginia and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!