Air Filter Merv Rating Meaning

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.

Air filter merv rating meaning.

Filters with higher merv ratings trap small particles more effectively than filters with lower merv ratings. When i say it s the standard rating system i mean it. 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 merv filter rating is the domestic and international industry standard rating system established by the american society of heating refrigerating and air conditioning engineers.

In this article we ll go into more detail about merv filters and how to choose the right one for your new. Hepa is a type of pleated mechanical air filter. An air filter s merv rating is a scale from 1 16 that describes the minimum efficiency of the air filter. Merv means m inimum e fficiency r eporting v alue which was developed by the american society of heating refrigeration and air conditioner engineers.

The other two systems were created by 3m mpr and the home depot fpr to differentiate their offerings. The merv rating on an air filter was designed by the american society of heating refrigerating and air conditioning engineers ashrae to rate the effectiveness of air filters. Many new jersey homeowners ask us about merv ratings especially when it comes to choosing between merv 8 and merv 11 air filters. In other words merv ratings indicate an air filter s ability to remove pollutants from the air.

Ashrae developed the merv air filter efficiency rating system. So the higher merv rating the higher its performance. The rating system is called ashrae standard 52 2 2007. Think of merv 8 filters as a good option and merv 11 filters as the better option for normal residential use.

This method tests air cleaning devices for dust removal efficiency. The higher the merv rating the smaller the pores are for air to flow through an hvac filter. Here s what we tell them. It is an acronym for high efficiency particulate air filter as officially defined by the u s.

The merv rating system is intended to be used to determine the filter s ability to remove particulates from the air. Ashrae stands for the american society of heating refrigerating and air conditioning engineers. The test is based on particle size. A low merv rating means that the filter does not remove as many particulates from the air.

In general filters with a rating of merv. This can create more resistance in airflow than a system is designed to manage thus making it.