Why is the MERV Rating Important?

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Why is the MERV Rating Important?
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• Most people do not think too much about the HVAC
  system in their home. They know that it is
  essential for their heating, ventilation, and
  cooling, but they only tend to think about the
  system when something goes wrong with it.

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• Proper care and maintenance of the system is
  essential, and it can help to prolong the life of
  the system. A big part of the care of the system
  is the filter.

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• The filter does two jobs in the HVAC system. It
  makes sure that there is no dust and grime that
  gets into the interior workings of the system,
  which helps to ensure the unit, stays in better
  working condition for longer. It also ensures
  that it keeps particulates out of the air that is
  being circulated into the home.

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• You need to make sure that you are changing out
  the air filter when needed, and that you are
  replacing it with a high-quality filter of the
  right size.

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• When you are replacing the filter, you will
  notice that the available options are going to
  have a MERV filter rating. Chances are good that
  you do not know too much about this rating or why
  it is so important when making your decision.

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• Understanding MERV
• MERV, or Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, is a
  number rating associated with the filter.
  Understanding what the MERV numbers mean will
  make it easier for you to determine what type of
  MERV rating filter you should get for your homes
  system.

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• The ratings go from MERV 1 all the way through
  MERV 20, and the higher the rating the better
  performance from the filter.
• Of course, with better performance tends to come
  a larger expense, and it is important to keep in
  mind that most of the higher-end MERV ratings are
  going to be for laboratories, hospitals, and
  clean room facilities.

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• The ones that you are going to be using for your
  residence will be between MERV 1 and MERV 12 in
  most cases. Now, lets get a better understanding
  of what ratings are going to work best for
  different situations.

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• These do not tend to last as long as higher-rated
  filters, so you will have to replace them
  regularly. In addition, they do not do much to
  improve the quality of the air in the home. In
  most cases, it would be a more cost-effective and
  healthier option to choose an air filter with a
  higher rating.

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• The filters that are rated MERV 1 to MERV 4 are
  flat and they are made from fiberglass. While
  these are the most affordable of the options on
  the market, they are also the ones that will
  provide the least amount of protection when it
  comes to the air quality of the home. They are
  often used in window AC units for residences.

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• The filters that are rated MERV 1 to MERV 4 are
  flat and they are made from fiberglass. While
  these are the most affordable of the options on
  the market, they are also the ones that will
  provide the least amount of protection when it
  comes to the air quality of the home. They are
  often used in window AC units for residences.

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• These do not tend to last as long as higher-rated
  filters, so you will have to replace them
  regularly. In addition, they do not do much to
  improve the quality of the air in the home. In
  most cases, it would be a more cost-effective and
  healthier option to choose an air filter with a
  higher rating.

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• The filters with MERV ratings from 5 8 are
  generally used for residences, and they are
  typically considered to be adequate for many
  homes, as long as there are no pets and there are
  no people who have severe allergies. Filters with
  a rating of 7 or higher are considered to be
  about as effective as HEPA filters.

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• The best quality MERV filter ratings for a home,
  and that do not require modifications to the HVAC
  system, will be between MERV 9 and MERV 12. They
  can keep out very small particles, making the air
  cleaner and healthier.

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• When you can understand the MERV filter rating
  and what type of air quality it can offer, it
  will become much easier to know which type of
  filter you should be getting for your residence.