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 11.
With finer filtration fewer airborne contaminates dust particles are allowed to pass through the filter.
An air filter s merv rating is a scale from 1 16 that describes the minimum efficiency of the air filter.
A merv rating is a numerical value ranging from 1 lowest efficiency to 20 highest efficiency and tells the consumer how well the filter captures and holds dirt and dust of a specified size range.
Also as doors and windows are opened and closed that too will introduce more of that particulate matter.
Many new jersey homeowners ask us about merv ratings especially when it comes to choosing between merv 8 and merv 11 air filters.
At 3m we believe merv only tells part of the story.
Merv means minimum efficiency reporting value merv and is an industry standard that measures the overall effectiveness of air filters.
Think of merv 8 filters as a good option and merv 11 filters as the better option for normal residential use.
Filters with higher merv ratings trap small particles more effectively than filters with lower merv ratings.
The higher the merv rating on a filter the fewer dust particles and other contaminants that can pass through it.
Merv 11 filters can filter particles as small as 0 3 micron or pm0 3.
When you want the best possible air filter for your home microparticles matter most they make up 99 of the particles that are in the air.
Supplies merv 8 merv 11 and merv 13 air filters.
The chart below shows the merv ratings corresponding particle size ranges and efficiency level as measured by the percentage of particles captured.
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.
Our filters are available in three grades merv 8 merv 11 and merv 13.
Here s what we tell them.
In this article we ll go into more detail about merv filters and how to choose the right one for your new.
What merv rating should i use.
Note with poor air quality more frequent filter changes will be needed.
Hepa is a type of pleated mechanical air filter.
What is a merv rating.
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.
Mpr microparticle rating is a rating system that includes microscopic particles not visible to the naked eye.
It is an acronym for high efficiency particulate air filter as officially defined by the u s.