Is MERV 11 Too High? A MERV 11 air filter has a higher efficiency rating. Meaning, it can capture finer particles and clear more contaminants out of the air.
Will MERV 11 filter hurt my furnace?
The short answer is that it can, but it’s not really an issue except under extreme circumstances. Most modern HVAC systems have no problem working with higher MERV filters, which is why millions of homeowners depend on them.
Is it OK to use a MERV 11 filter?
The MERV 11 filter is best for pet owners and people who live with certain health conditions, such as mild allergies and mild asthma. It offers more filtration for cleaner air than the MERV 8 but doesn’t filter as much as the MERV 13 (the highest option suggested for residential use).
Are higher MERV filters restrict airflow?
MERV is short for “Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value”. … A higher MERV rating means a higher resistance, which means less airflow. When researching HVAC systems, airflow will come up a lot.
Can your air filter be too restrictive?
Burnt out motors and controls can result from too-restrictive filters. … Coils, motors, and blowers can also easily become clogged by weak filters creating higher fan usage resulting in higher energy costs.
Is MERV 11 better than 12?
Luckily, MERV 11-rated filters handle those particles — such as pet hair and dust mites — with ease. Likewise, MERV 12 filters catch about the same types of particles. The difference between 11 and 12, therefore, is quite negligible. We do not carry MERV 12; MERV 11 does just as good a job.
What MERV rating does YORK recommend?
York furnace filters are good at trapping a variety of particles, including smoke, mold, dust, pollen, viruses, and more. Our premium aftermarket York replacement furnace filters are available in Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) 8-15.
Does MERV 11 filter Covid?
What kind of filter should I use in my home HVAC system to help protect my family from COVID-19? Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values, or MERV, reports a filter’s ability to capture particles. Filters with MERV-13 or higher ratings can trap smaller particles, including viruses.
Is MERV 11 better than 13?
The MERV 11 rating is one of the most popular choices when it comes to residential use. The MERV 13 is less popular and is the highest rating that is recommended for residential use. Anything above 13 is mainly used for commercial/industrial purposes.
How often should I change my MERV 11 filter?
The basic recommendation for furnace filters replacement is every 3-4 months for MERV 8, every 6 months MERV 10 and 11 and every year for MERV 16.
Does MERV 11 restrict airflow?
A MERV 11 air filter has a higher efficiency rating. … Air filters with higher MERV ratings can filter more, but the thickness of the filter material can restrict airflow. Restricted airflow can decrease comfort, increase energy use, and accelerate the wear and tear of HVAC components.
What MERV rating can my HVAC handle?
The EPA recommends MERV ratings of 9-12 because it is the most effective at keeping your home’s air clean. A filter with this rating will prevent particulates as small as 1 micron from entering your HVAC system. This rating qualifies as HEPA (high-efficiency particulate absorption) level.
What MERV rating is best for home use?
In general, the best MERV rating for a home is somewhere between 8-10. These filters will capture a large portion of the airborne particles and improve indoor air quality without making your energy costs rise significantly.
Is MERV 14 too high?
MERV 14 is too strong for most home HVAC systems.
And these are some of the best on the market. … MERV is an industry-standard, or rating. The abbreviation stands for Minimum Effective Reporting Value. In other words, it’s a measurement showing how small the holes are in the filter.
Is MERV 13 too restrictive?
MERV 13 air filters are the highest-rated air filters for home use. Any air filter with a rating higher than 13 will restrict air flow to the point of which could cause damage to your HVAC system, resulting in an added expense to fix it.
Can an air filter be too thick?
If you get a filter with pleats that are too thick, your filter could get dirty quickly. Thus, making your AC unit work harder than it needs to. A good benchmark to follow when considering MERV ratings is that if it’s more than 13, the pleats are most likely too thick for your filter.
Can I replace Merv 11 with MERV 12?
In general no. In order to use a Merv 12 to replace a Merv 11, you need to know if you system can handle the extra pressure drop caused by the higher efficiency Merv 12. My heat pump/ ventilation system cannot support the pressure drop of a Merv 12.
What is the difference between MERV 10 and 11?
A MERV 9 will trap less than 50% of particles sized 1.0-3.0 microns, MERV 10 will stop up to 64%, MERV 11 will get up to 79%, and MERV 12 is capable of catching up to 89%.
What MERV rating does Rheem recommend?
What MERV rating does Rheem recommend? Rheem recommends filters of MERV 8 and above. This MERV level is strong enough to remove substances like pollen, dust mites, dust and pet dander from the air.
What MERV rating does Goodman recommend?
The EPA suggests that filters with a MERV rating between 7 and 13 can be nearly as effective as true HEPA filters. However, some residential HVAC systems may not have enough fan or motor capacity to accommodate higher efficiency filters.
How do I know my MERV rating?
- MERV 1-4 Filters: Filters with a MERV rating of 1 to 4 do little to trap harmful particles in your home’s air. …
- MERV 5-8 Filters: MERV ratings of 5 to 8 indicate a medium-quality filter that’s sufficient for most homes.
What MERV level is HEPA?
A HEPA is the creme de la creme of air filters with an equivalent rating of a MERV 17 or higher. A HEPA filter at a MERV 17 rating will trap 99.97% of air particles that are 0.3-1.0 microns in size. The filter is able to trap 99% of air particles 3 to 10 microns in size.
Do air filters stop Covid?
When used properly, air cleaners and HVAC filters can help reduce airborne contaminants including viruses in a building or small space. By itself, air cleaning or filtration is not enough to protect people from COVID-19.
Do HEPA filters have a MERV rating?
HEPA air filters are not MERV rated as they exceed the ASHRAE test protocol 52.2 used in determining the MERV ratings. … All HEPA air filters must meet a minimum efficiency of 99.97% at 0.3 microns.
What MERV filter does carrier recommend?
Selecting a good quality filter with 12 – 16 MERV to remove a high percentage of offending particulates. Be sure to check your filter at a minimum of once per month.
Can my furnace handle MERV 13?
The ideal MERV filters for both air filtering and furnace efficiency are 7-13, experts say. These filters can be used without any modifications to your equipment. Your system may handle MERV 14-16 with no discernable stress. However, many residential systems require modifications to pull air through these filters.
Are pleated filters better than fiberglass?
While fiberglass air filters will do the job in the most basic way, in most cases, pleated air filters are much better. They can filter out smaller particles – important for people with airborne sensitivities. They are less likely to clog in a short amount of time, and they can last up to 90 days.
Why are my air filters so dirty?
Ducts that have holes, gaps, or leaks should be sealed up properly to prevent good air from getting out and bad air from getting in. If there is a leak in the return air ducts, the dusty, dirty air from spaces like that attic or crawl space gets sucked up into the ducts, dirtying the air filter and causing clogging.
What happens if you dont change AC filter?
If you don’t change your AC filter, it will begin to fail. It will no longer be able to filter the air properly, letting dust and contaminants get into the AC. Dust jams the moving parts of an AC such as fan motors and valves. Airflow is restricted which creates a strain on the system.
Are allergen filters bad for HVAC?
Letting the air filter work overtime
Not only that, it’s actually hurting your heating and cooling system and raising your energy bills. According to ENERGY STAR: “A dirty filter will slow down air flow and make the system work harder to keep you warm or cool—wasting energy.
Is MERV 11 good?
MERV 11 rated air filters have a filtration efficiency of a little over 90%, making them highly efficient. MERV 11 furnace filters effectively trap pollen, dust, lint, dust mites, and mold, along with smoke, pet dander, smog, auto emissions, bacteria, and other such fine particles.
Is a MERV 12 filter good?
A filter with a MERV rating of around 10 to 12 is sufficient to remove most allergy-causing particles from your home’s air. Most air filters that are able to remove common allergens will have the word “allergy” or “allergen” on their packaging.
What is a MERV 12 rating?
A filter with a MERV rating of nine to 12 captures particles greater than one micrometer. This includes most dust and common pollutants. Hospital laboratories and superior residential air conditioners fall within this range.
What is the difference between MERV 12 and MERV 13?
MERV 10 – MERV 12 filters remove most 1.0 to 3.0 micron particles plus bigger ones. These include all those listed under MERV 8 filters plus pet dander, bacteria, most smoke/smog particles and most auto emission particles. MERV 13 – MERV 16 filters remove most . 3 – 1.0 micron particles plus bigger ones.