A MERV 11 filter traps all of that, plus pet dander, smoke, smog, and air from coughs and sneezes. A MERV 11 is a must if you have children or pets. It filters out many of the most common air pollutants and irritants. For an everyday oven filter, we usually recommend a MERV 11 for our customers.
A MERV 11 filter strikes the right balance between cost and performance. It is essential to remember that the MERV rating of an air filter denotes its lowest possible capacity, that is, the minimum percentage of impurities it could effectively filter. Most ovens and HVAC systems can accommodate a MERV 13 filter without creating problems for the equipment, provided that the filter is replaced frequently. MERV 11 filters must achieve at least 20% efficiency for 0.3—1 µm particles, while MERV 13 and higher require at least 50% efficiency for 0.3—1 µm particles.
Using an oven filter with a MERV rating higher than your use case requires can have adverse effects. During wildfire season, choose MERV 13 or higher and look for a filter with activated carbon (also called activated carbon). For residential use, the standard recommendation is to choose an oven filter with a MERV rating between 7 and 13.The thickness of the filter material in a MERV filter 11, for example, is greater than that of a MERV filter 8.This means that an oven filter with a lower rating would retain a lower percentage of debris and impurities compared to a filter with a higher rating. MERV 12 filters trap 80 to 89 percent of the 1.0 to 3.0 micron average particles, with an average particle size efficiency of 90 percent or better.
By using an air filter with a MERV 6, MERV 8, or MERV 11 rating in your heating and cooling system, you can breathe fresh, clean air because the filter will trap mold particles in the air and there will be less air in your home. Only MERV 11 and above filters are specifically tested for their ability to remove the smallest particles (0.3—1 µm). MERV 9-12 Rating A MERV 9 will trap less than 50% of particles with a size of 1.0-3.0 microns, the MERV 10 will stop at 64%, the MERV 11 will get up to 79%, and the MERV 12 is capable of trapping up to 89%. Therefore, the MERV rating system provides a standard for comparing a variety of oven filters from different manufacturers.
