With the effects of the pandemic still lingering and new strains of the Covid virus emerging each month, it stands to reason that people will do all they can to ensure the air they are breathing is as clean and healthy as possible. The mask mandates that many states enacted were put in place to help filter out possible virus’ in the air outside. In your home, your HVAC filer works much the same way. And like face masks, there are different grades of filters available but not all filters are a good fit for your home.
You may have heard of a MERV filter or MERV rating. MERV stands for “minimum efficiency reporting value” and is assigned to filters to let the consumer know what size particles will be trapped by that filter. This rating is determined by the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHARE) and they recommend a MERV 6 or higher for your home.
Though ASHARE recommends a MERV 6 or higher, most people go with a MERV 8 filter. Most homes can remove contaminants with MERV 8 to MERV 13, while hospitals use filters rated MERV 14 to MERV 20. HEPA filters have a MERV rating of 17 or higher and are typically used in hospitals and medical facilities.
While a higher rating may sound ideal, your home’s HVAC system is only designed to support filters with a MERV rating of around 8 or 9. The increased workload on the fan as well as the reduced airflow that comes from moving air through a finer mesh filter can cause damage to your system. So unless you want to install a custom HEPA filtration system in your home, choose a good quality filter with a rating under 13 for your HVAC.
No matter what kind of filter you choose, the most important things to remember is to change them regularly. Each filter is different and comes with manufacture recommendations on how often they should be changed. Keeping within these guidelines will ensure that your home’s air is as clean as it can be. If you have questions regarding filters, duct cleaning or the air quality of your home, Quigley has answers. Call us today with your questions or to schedule an appointment.
