Overall, the best MERV rating for a home is between 8 and 10.These filters will capture a large part of the particles in the air and improve the interior. A MERV rating of between 6 and 13 generally meets the needs of most residences. This range 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 you need to replace it.
In most cases, a MERV 11 air filter isn't too tall for residential use. Generally speaking, anything under a MERV 13 air filter should provide very efficient air purification in a home without affecting airflow. Meanwhile, air filters with a MERV 14 rating or higher are designed for commercial HVAC systems that can handle the coarsest filter material. MERV 17 to MERV 20 filters are commonly used in operating rooms, cleanrooms, and other settings that require absolute cleanliness.
Using an air filter with a MERV rating higher than recommended by the manufacturer of your oven or air conditioner may impair its performance. Since the MERV rating system is standard, it makes it a little easier to compare filters with different MERV ratings. Pleated filters that are MERV 8 to 13, unlike fiberglass, can effectively filter small particles and decrease pressure drop (this is the closest thing to MerVana you can find). If you're trying to choose between a MERV 8 air filter and a MERV 11 air filter, here's what you need to know.
However, contrary to these warnings, there is a mountain of owners' testimonies that MERV filters 11, 12 and even 13 have worked well in their systems for years. 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. The higher MERV rating means that an air filter will capture the most dust, while the lower rating means that a filter will capture the least amount of dust. If you're new to selecting air filters, you may still not be sure what the best option is despite the detailed explanation above.
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. MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Report Value and is a measure of how well a filter removes particles from the air. If your home's HVAC system is not capable of handling MERV 13, opt for a filter with the next highest possible rating. If you can't find Nordic Pure in your size, or if you prefer to buy and buy a new filter in a store right away, Honeywell's FPR 9 filters and Filtrete's MPR 1500 filters are similar and widely available in retail stores.
One thing to keep in mind is that a MERV 11 air filter may need to be changed a little more frequently than a MERV 8 air filter.
