The Minimum Efficiency Report Value (MERV) rating for an air filter is a system used to measure how effectively the filter prevents dust and other contaminants from passing through it into the air stream. Filters with higher MERV ratings are able to trap smaller particles more efficiently than filters with lower MERV ratings. An official website of the United States Government, gov, belongs to an official government organization in the United States. The MERV rating system reports a filter's ability to capture particles between 0.3 and 10 microns (µm).
All air filters require regular cleaning and filter replacement in order to function properly. It is important to follow the manufacturer's recommendations for maintenance and replacement. If you want to know what a MERV rating is, you're in the right place. MERV stands for Minimum Value of Efficiency Reports.
In short, a MERV rating lets you know what particle size of air an air filter will trap. A higher rating means that the filter can trap smaller air particles. 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. Finding filters with the right MERV ratings is essential to ensuring that the air is well filtered without overloading the HVAC system.
In 1987, the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers designed the MERV rating scale to provide a more accurate picture of an air filter's capabilities. Selecting the right MERV rating for your air filter is a delicate balance between the capabilities of your HVAC system and the indoor air quality you want to have. Once you understand how the MERV rating table works, you can choose air filters with the MERV ratings that are right for you. Filters with a MERV rating of 8 to 13 are usually high-end filters for domestic use or high-quality commercial filters.
Basically, the higher the MERV rating, the greater the air filtration capabilities of a particular filter. 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.
