A few weeks ago, we explained what a micron is and why it’s important. Now we are going to examine what a MERV rating is and why it matters.

Let’s start off with what the word MERV means. MERV is an acronym that stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. MERV is the standard that rates the overall performance of air filters and was created by The American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioner Engineers (ASHRAE). MERV rating numbers range from 1 to 16. The higher the MERV number, the finer the filtration (fewer airborne particles can get through the filter media).

FiltersFast.com has made it easy to choose the MERV rating that is right for your home. Our household FiltersFast brand air filters come in three different ratings, MERV 8, MERV 11 and MERV 13.

We’ve broken down the airborne particle sizes that each MERV is designed to reduce:

MERV 8 filters (particle size in microns: 3.0-100):

• Human Hair
• Carpet fibers
• Pollen
• Dust Mites
• Plant Spores
• Mold Spores
• Auto Emissions
• Hair Spray
• Pet Dander
• Insecticide Dust
• Bacteria

MERV 11 (particle size in microns: 1.0-3.0):

• Human Hair
• Carpet fibers
• Pollen
• Dust Mites
• Plant Spores
• Mold Spores
• Auto Emissions
• Hair Spray
• Pet Dander
• Insecticide Dust
• Bacteria
• Lung Damaging Dust
• Burning Wood
• Cooking Oil
• Tobacco Smoke Smog

MERV 13 (particle size in microns: 0.3-1.0):

• Human Hair
• Carpet fibers
• Pollen
• Dust Mites
• Plant Spores
• Mold Spores
• Auto Emissions
• Hair Spray
• Pet Dander
• Insecticide Dust
• Bacteria
• Lung Damaging Dust
• Burning Wood
• Cooking Oil
• Tobacco Smoke Smog

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What if I can’t find the MERV rating for the filter I am trying to purchase? Majority of the filters you will find at the store or online will probably have the MERV rating on the package or in the product description. Some filter brands even have their own performance rating too, so we recommend doing your research before purchasing.

Deciding what MERV is right for you and your family is easy when you have the correct information. We recommend choosing a MERV based on your filtration priorities. Think about the characteristics of your home and ask yourself some of these questions:

• Do you have more than one pet?
• How old is your home?
• Do people in your family suffer from allergies?

If my MERV is higher do I have to change less often? The MERV rating you choose has nothing to do with how often you need to be changing your filter. FiltersFast.com brand filters and other popular brands are designed to last for 3 months, but we recommend checking your filter regularly and changing it at the frequency that works for you. ­­­­­­

Still not sure what MERV rating you should choose? Feel free to leave us a comment or call us at 866-438-3458, we’re happy to help!

Want to learn more about how the MERV of an air filter is measured? Check out this NAFA resource: https://www.nafahq.org/understanding-merv/