According to ASHRAE, the best rating for residential HVAC systems is MERV 13.In general, filters with higher MERV ratings are more effective and improve air quality, but they are also more expensive. Plus, taller doesn't always mean better for homeowners. MERV ratings greater than 16 are commonly used in specialized commercial environments where air filtration is essential, such as hospitals. Overall, our recommended MERV rating for oven filters ranges from 6 to 8 to strike a great balance between maximum oven efficiency and home comfort.
MERV stands for Minimum Value of Efficiency Reports. MERV ratings are a rating system designed by ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers) to inform the effectiveness of air filters. Not all filters are created equal. The higher the number, the better the filter.
Although your HVAC system may not handle a larger number. You can use the table below to better understand how filters rated with FPR and MPR compare to the more standard MERV rating system. In general, air filters with higher MERV ratings remove a higher percentage of contaminants in the air and, therefore, improve the indoor air quality of your home. Since higher speed filters allow less air to flow through the oven, it's a good idea to check if your system has a maximum MERV rating.
A MERV score of 1 to 6 is the lowest range of MERV ratings, but that doesn't necessarily mean you should cancel a filter with a rating in this range. For example, a better MERV rating doesn't always mean a filter is the best option for your oven. Choosing the right MERV rating for your oven filter has a big impact on indoor air quality, your HVAC system, and most importantly, the well-being of your family. MERV ratings 1 to 16 are considered HVAC system grade filters suitable for residential, commercial and general hospital HVAC systems.
This rating is more efficient than MERV 8 and 11 with the ability to filter even more allergens from the air. Obtaining filters with the correct MERV ratings is essential to ensuring that the air is well filtered without overloading the HVAC system. Filters that are MERV 16 to 20 are generally only found in hospitals, cleanrooms, and nuclear power plants. A filter with a MERV rating between 1 and 6 can remove particles between 0.3 and 10 microns with an efficiency of 20%.
Unlike other scales, which emphasized the need to increase the number of particles passing through an air filter, MERV was designed to offer a balance between particle filtering and energy efficiency. MERV 17 to MERV 20 filters are explicitly used in an industrial or scientific application, such as surgical operating rooms, cleanrooms and other applications that require absolute cleanliness. Filter technology has grown by leaps and bounds over the years, and MERV ratings are designed to help us determine the most effective and efficient air filter options for heating and cooling systems and more.
