Finding the right furnace filter for your household can be challenging. While you probably know that it’s important, you may not be sure how to make that final decision. Fortunately, by taking the MERV scale into account, you can make that choice significantly easier.
MERV, which stands for minimum efficiency reporting value, measures how well a furnace filter captures particulates in the air. For residential use, the scale ranges from 1 to 16, but the majority of filters for home use fall somewhere between 1 and 12. The higher on the scale, the more and smaller the particles the filter will capture from the air.
Usually, you want to take your unique situation into account when deciding where on the MERV scale you want to purchase. Generally, unless you or a family member have some sort of serious allergy or immune system disorder, you won’t need a furnace filter rated at MERV 11 or higher. In fact, for the average household, a filter rated at 7 or 8 on the scale will be fine, as it will trap from 80 to 95 percent of particles 5 microns or larger.
As for furnace filters in the higher range of MERV ratings – from 13-16 – they do the best job of cleaning your air, but they also are likely to restrict air flow in your HVAC system, sometimes by as much as 50 percent. This will force your furnace to work harder, increasing wear and tear on parts and using up more energy. Also, some of the higher MERV filters require modifications in your furnace in order to fit properly.
So, now that you have this new knowledge, keep this information in mind when considering a furnace filter for your home. For any HVAC needs in your Connecticut home, contact us at Glasco Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about MERV filters and other HVAC topics, visit our website.
Glasco Heating & Air Conditioning services South Windsor, Connecticut and the surrounding areas.