Who's MERV?
No, MERV is not the creepy guy living down the street, it is a rating system for air conditioner filters that most people do nut understand. One reason that many people do not understand the importance of their air conditioning filter, is because they are not aware of what the MERV rating means. In a nutshell, the MERV rating is a test of efficiency for every air filter. A higher MERV rating means that the air conditioner furnace will not allow as many particulates to pass through the filter.
MERV rating tests are conducted based upon varying particle sizes in a scientifically controlled environment. Often a laser particle sample is taken from the air both as it enters and exits the filter. These two samples are then compared and used to conclude the “Particle Size Efficiency” of the air conditioning filter. Then you simply check the standardized MERV parameters to see what rating a filter should receive. The entire MERV scale ranges from 1 to 16. The particulates that are included in these tests are pollen, dust, bacteria, spores, viruses, smoke, smog, and even pet dander.
Here is an overview of what each rating represents and why the MERV rating should be important to you and your family.
Air Conditioner Filters with a MERV Rating of 1-4
These filters are the cheapest on the market and used in a surprisingly high number of residential homes. These filters are always disposable and often made of fiberglass. They will always do a poor job of filtering air because they do not have the ability to filter out any small particulates. They will normally test at an efficiency rating of less than 20%. This means that they will not be able to filter out dangerous mold, bacteria, dander, and other pollutants that can make you and your family sick.
Air Conditioner Filters with a MERV Rating of 5-8
These filters are also extremely common in residential and commercial buildings. However, just like air condition filters with a MERV rating of 1-4 they are very inefficient at filtering out small, yet dangerous particulates. They will normally filter out anywhere from 20% to 50% of all particulates.
Air Conditioner Filters with a MERV Rating of 9-12
These air conditioner filters are some of the best that are used, especially in residential buildings. They allow for maximum filtration and control over limiting tiny particles like mold and bacteria that common pass through lower rated filters. The key thing to remember when choosing an air conditioner filter with a MERV rating this high is that they must be kept clean. Because they filter out up to 99% of all airborne particulates, they can clog quickly. If they remain clogged for too long, your furnace will not have enough air coming in, which makes it work much harder. This can cause your furnace to break down much sooner than it otherwise would. However, you only need to clean these filters once or twice a month.
Anything above a MERV 12 rating will often only be found in hospitals or other environments that must be kept hyper-clean.
MERV 12 filters have started to become extremely popular since the EPA has made an effort to raise awareness about indoor pollution. Nordic Pure MERV 12 air conditioner filters are always an excellent choice. Many of them are re-usable which means that you only need to clean them, not purchase new ones every month. They are also carrying a permanent electrostatic charge to draw in tiny particulates that would otherwise be able to avoid the air conditioner filter.
These features of the Nordic Pure MERV 12 air conditioner filter will greatly enhance the ability of your family to keep breathing clean air as well as keep your air conditioner running smoothing for years to come.
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