When it comes to selecting the right air filter for your home, it's essential to understand the MERV rating system.
MERV
stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value and is a scale from 1 to 16 that describes the minimum efficiency of an air filter. To determine the best MERV rating for your home and climate system, start by consulting the owner's manual. It will indicate the maximum MERV rating that your system can handle.Using a filter with a value greater than the recommended limit can affect the efficiency of the system and lead to costly repairs in the future. In addition, you'll need to know the size of air filter you need. Check the specifications of your air conditioning system or just look at the old filter - the dimensions should be printed on the frame. Generally, a MERV rating between 6 and 13 is suitable for most homes, as it offers a good balance between air filtration, airflow, and affordability. If you select an air filter with a MERV 13 rating, it can last up to six months before needing to be replaced. If your family has health problems or allergies, you may want to look for a high-efficiency filter that is MERV 11 or higher.
However, it's important to check the air filter every month to check its condition and see if it needs to be changed. Regularly changing your air filter is essential to keep your system clean and running efficiently, as well as keeping energy bills under control. The MERV scale is a standard measure of a filter's ability to remove particulate matter from your home air. It establishes the minimum amount of particles that a filter must capture to obtain a specific MERV classification. Some of the best air filters for allergies have additional features, such as a carbon layer to eliminate odors. Unlike other scales, which emphasize increasing the amount of particles that pass through an air filter, the MERV was designed to provide a balance between particulate filtering and energy efficiency.
A high MERV rating on an air filter usually means that the filter is thicker, so the air conditioning system will have to work harder to get air around the house. The oven air filter is usually located inside the fan compartment, which is situated between the air return and the oven or air controller itself. The filters are rectangular in shape, so they will have a length, width, and thickness (typically 1 to 2 inches for residential HVAC systems).Now that you know how to select the ideal MERV rating for your oven filter and how to change it, you're ready to keep your home air clean. One of the best ways to determine which MERV classification to use is to compare options side by side. When choosing an air filter for your home, it's important to consider all factors such as size, MERV rating, and additional features like carbon layers. Make sure you consult your owner's manual first and select an appropriate MERV rating that won't damage your system.
Regularly changing your air filter will help keep your system clean and running efficiently while also reducing energy bills. By understanding how MERV ratings work and what type of filter you need for your home, you can make sure you're getting the best possible protection from airborne particles while also keeping energy costs down.
