Merv Air Filter Meaning

So the higher the merv rating the more efficient it is.

Merv air filter meaning.

The higher the merv rating the smaller the pores are for air to flow through an hvac filter. Minimum efficiency reporting value merv is a standard that rates the overall effectiveness of air filters. When i say it s the standard rating system i mean it. The scale represents a quantum leap in the precision and accuracy of air cleaner ratings and allows for improved health reduced cost and energy efficiency in.

Hepa is a type of pleated mechanical air filter. Higher value merv rating equates to finer filtration meaning fewer dust particles and other airborne contaminants can pass through the filter. Here s a breakdown of the merv ratings. 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.

It is an acronym for high efficiency particulate air filter as officially defined by the u s. The standard rating system for filters is called minimum efficiency reporting value or merv. Many new jersey homeowners ask us about merv ratings especially when it comes to choosing between merv 8 and merv 11 air filters. Merv means m inimum e fficiency r eporting v alue which was developed by the american society of heating refrigeration and air conditioner engineers.

Here s what we tell them. Merv stands for minimum efficiency reporting value. According to the american society of heating refrigerating and air conditioning engineers ashrae this filtration helps provide healthier indoor air quality a filter s merv number indicates how it s rated to remove these particles. Think of merv 8 filters as a good option and merv 11 filters as the better option for normal residential use.

Your filters merv rating is a good way to help judge the effectiveness of the filter. This rating system is defined in an ashrae standard 52 2 which specifies the conditions under which the testing must be done and the performance required to meet each merv level. As air moves through a building s hvac system air filters trap and collect large and small particles such as dust allergens and microorganisms. Minimum efficiency reporting value commonly known as merv is a measurement scale designed in 1987 by the american society of heating refrigerating and air conditioning engineers ashrae to report the effectiveness of air filters.

The minimum efficiency reporting value or merv rating determines the efficiency of an air filter. This can create more resistance in airflow than a system is designed to manage thus making it. The merv rating system is intended to be used to determine the filter s ability to remove particulates from the air.