In this blog entry, the professional Denver air duct cleaning service experts here at Air Improvement Denver will detail the meaning of MERV ratings, and how they can impact HVAC system performance.
What exactly is a MERV rating?
MERV means Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. It’s a rating that describes how well an air filter is doing at filtering the air. MERV ratings start at 1 and reach 16. The higher the MERV rating, the better the filter is at capturing incredibly small and even microscopic particulate matter from the air.
How can MERV ratings affect indoor air quality?
Air inside most residential and commercial environments carries a bunch of different particulate matter like dust mites, carpet fibers, pet dander, bacteria, smoke, mold spores, and more. A quality air filter can remove these contaminants from the air. Air filters with MERV ratings between 7 and 12 can usually remove most typical home air contaminants. Filters with grades of 13 and above are mostly used in medical and hospital settings.
How can MERV ratings impact your HVAC system performance?
Keep in mind that all HVAC systems and forced air systems will need a constant flow of clean air to properly run. Air filters ensure that the air going into the HVAC system stays clean. Air filters with high MERV ratings have smaller pores for the air to move through. This creates airflow resistance, which the usual home HVAC systems aren’t built to withstand. This causes lots of stress and pressure on the HVAC system blower fan, rendering them less effective at filtering and heating/cooling your home, and likely leading to poor air quality in your property. We recommend installing a MERV air filter at the appropriate level for both residential and commercial HVAC systems in order to improve air quality as well as minimize the strain experienced by these systems (as well as the likelihood that you might have to pay for repairs down the line).