What is the Best Filter for Your Home: Merv 8, 11 or 13?

Now that you know the truth, call us at Filtration Montreal to order your furnace filters and ask us any remaining questions you may have about MERV ratings. With the recommendation of a MERV 13 or higher, does a MERV 13 filter meet your needs? A MERV 13 filter is a step in the right direction and captures more particles than a typical MERV 8 filter. However, it's not as good at capturing small virus-sized particles as a HEPA can. A MERV 13 will trap less than 75% of air particles that are 0.3-1.0 microns in size (coronavirus is 0.1 microns).It is also difficult for many existing HVAC (HVAC) systems to adopt a MERV 13 because of the increased fan load of finer filter media, which can actually cause more harm than good and reduce airflow if your system is not designed to handle that type of filter.

On average, many installations are limited to one Merv 8 or MERV 9 filter type.

Merv 8 filters

are ideal for an average home. It's much better than fiberglass filters and is still quite reasonably priced. This type of oven filter will be able to trap anything larger than 3 micrometers, which is enough to trap common pollen, dust and debris. A MERV 13 air filter is one of the best filters on the market.

These will trap all typical airborne contaminants, including several more. While a MERV 13 filter can trap dust, pollen, mold and bacteria, it can also filter smoke, smog, and even virus carriers. In fact, there aren't many particles in the air that a MERV 13 air filter can't trap. MERV 11 is better, and MERV 13 could be called the best leak among these three. How well an air filter traps particulates is an important consideration, of course, but there are other factors to think about when answering the question, which is the best MERV? MERV 8, 11 or 13 may be the right Merv rating for your oven or air controller, depending on your circumstances.

Filtering is a mechanical method of purifying air, which means that it works with living and non-living particles. HEPA filters are the most efficient for residential or commercial use, followed by MERV 13-16 filters. However, restricting the air flow of these filters causes a pressure drop and the capacity of the ventilation system must be considered before using them. They're more expensive than MERV 8 filters, but they're still easy to find and won't break the bank. Although prices may vary, you can see that there is quite a big price difference between the two MERV ratings. MERV 13 are the densest filter types discussed here, so they should be changed more regularly than types with lower MERV ratings.

MERV 11 filters are an excellent choice if you need to take your filtration to the next level without restricting airflow too much. Smog and Construction: If you live in an area with heavy construction, factories, or smog, using a MERV 13 filter will ensure that the air inside your home is not polluted. A MERV rating higher than 13 is likely to wear out or damage your equipment, and a MERV rating lower than 8 may not effectively remove particles from the air in your home. MERV 14 and higher can capture particles that are even smaller than previous MERV ratings, ranging from 0.3 to 1.0 microns in size. Overall, the highest MERV rating that is safe for residential use is MERV 13, although such a high rating is rarely needed in a residential home, unless someone has severe dust allergies or asthma and needs advanced air filtering. Filters that are MERV 16 to 20 are generally only found in hospitals, cleanrooms, and nuclear power plants.