What Is A Merv Filter

Welcome to this week's blog! Information technology's all virtually MERV and our filters.

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As you may know, we at Second Nature offering a choice of three differently rated air filters: Our Essential (MERV eight), Essential+ (MERV ten), and Health Shield (MERV 13). So, which one is correct for you?

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As you try to make this decision, yous'll demand to reply several important questions: What if I have allergies? How unlike is each MERV rating? What's the all-time filter if I have a pet? Volition any of these filters make my HVAC system work less efficiently? Who got sent home on The Bachelorette last week?

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In this week's blog, we have the answers to all of these questions and and so much more. Don't be MERVous. Later on you finish reading, nosotros guarantee you'll know what yous need to know to brand an informed decision.

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Already know what you demand? Get ahead of check filters off your to-practice list right now!

To kicking things off, nosotros'll give you a basic rundown of everything MERV.

What exactly is MERV?
How does the MERV rating system work?
What's pressure drop?
Essential MERV 8 Filter
Essential+ MERV ten Filter
Health Shield MERV thirteen Filter

What exactly is MERV?

MERV, otherwise known as Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, is a organization used to evaluate the efficiency of an air filter based on how effective it is at catching particles of varying sizes. Basically, the higher the MERV rating, the higher the air filtration capabilities of a detail filter.

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How does the MERV rating system work?

Well, MERV ratings range from 1 to xx, with 1 being the everyman level of filtration, and 20 being the highest. Filters that are MERV 16 through xx are commonly simply found in hospitals, cleanrooms, and nuclear power plants. The home air filters you lot're looking for are rated anywhere betwixt MERV v and 13. We, however, exercise not endorse any filter that is lower than a MERV eight, and filters below MERV 5? We don't even talk most those.

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Filters rated below a MERV 5 are basically the wet socks of air filters. Please don't use them and embarrass your air return like that. Your indoor air quality deserves better.

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MERV ratings are determined by a filter's effectiveness at filtering particles of different sizes. Specifically, we're talking almost 12 differently sized particles from 0.3 to 10 micrometers (µm) in bore that were created in a laboratory environment. For reference, a human hair is about 50 µm, and the smallest particles that can be identified by the human eye are nearly xl µm. These 12 particles are then divided up into iii different size ranges (E1, E2, and E3), and 4 subranges that exist within each range. The get-go range, E1, includes particles sized 0.iii to i.0 µm. E2 includes particles sized 1.0 to iii.0 µm, and E3 encompasses particles sized 3.0 to 10.0 µm.

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The next step? Each filter will go through six tests per particle size (72 tests total) to determine its MERV rating. In each test, the total number of particles in the test will be counted earlier being sprayed through the filter, and then counted again afterward. The end count compared to the total corporeality of particles is then converted into a percentage representing how many particles were successfully filtered out of the air. The worst percentage out of the 6 tests is selected as the official measurement used to make up one's mind a filter's MERV rating. That'southward where the minimum in MERV comes from. If we didn't use the worst score, it would just be chosen ERV, which is nowhere near as cool of a name.

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Check out this nautical chart below for more on E1, E2, and E3 particles:

Now, on to pressure drop!

What's pressure drop?

In simple terms, pressure drop is basically air resistance. Your air filter is a literal barrier between your HVAC organization and your vents, and that slows the ability of air to get pulled through your vents to your actual organization. How much your HVAC'southward air catamenia is slowed by a filter is equivalent to its pressure level drop.

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Pressure level drop varies based on the filter. Filters that are more than tightly woven go far harder for air to pass through. This creates a subtract in air flow and a higher force per unit area drop. As long as you take an air filter installed in your air return, there's no manner to avert force per unit area drop.

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Fifty-fifty MERV ane - 4 fiberglass filters have a pressure level drop, though information technology is minimal. These cheap filters will have footling impact on air period at the expense of having little affect on air quality. The reason that pressure level drop is so low for a fiberglass filter is considering it is extremely porous and as a consequence, ineffective at filtering. Effectively particles will accept no trouble at all getting through a fiberglass filter, and those that are larger volition be filtered out less effectively than past a pleated filter.

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Really fiberglass? C' mon, you lot literally have i job.

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Pleated filters that are MERV viii to 13, unlike fiberglass, tin can both filter out minor particles effectively and diminish force per unit area drop (this here is as shut to MERVana that you can get). Even though pleated filters do have a slightly higher initial pressure drop, it is non so significant as to cause any impairment to your HVAC organisation, as long as you lot're changing your filters regularly.

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Exist aware that as fourth dimension goes on, more dirt, dander, mold, and grit will be trapped by your filter, reducing air menstruum and therefore increasing pressure level drib. And so, make certain you're replacing your air filter regularly to forbid this from happening. A filter replacement every two to three months will do the trick to make sure your HVAC system sees no subtract in functionality.

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Ok, now that we've got all of that covered, it's time to meet the filters.

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Essential MERV 8 Filter

First up, it'southward Essential, our MERV eight filter.

What does an Essential filter out of the air? It takes care of all the nuts: pollen, dust, dust mites, mold, and leaner.

Who should own a Essential? Homeowners who don't live near smoke pollution and who don't share a household with any allergy-suffers or pets.

What'due south the filtration efficiency? To be classified equally a MERV 8 filter according to NAFA (National Air Filtration Association), a filter must filter out at to the lowest degree seventy% of E3 (3.0-10.0 µm) particles and 20% of E2 (i.0-iii.0 µm) particles. Essential actually exceeds that requirement. In addition to 70% of E3 particles, it likewise filters out xxx% of E2 particles and i.9% of E1 (0.3-1.0 µm) particles. Since it is a MERV eight filter, it isn't designed to catch the smallest of small particles that fall into the E1 category, like pet dander. In addition, after conducting standard dust tests, it was found that Essential had an arrestance charge per unit of 81.five%. This means that 81.5% of dust particles fed into the filter were successfully filtered out of the air.

Okay, so how well-nigh pressure drop? Our pressure drops tests were conducted at pretty standard air menses rates for the average HVAC system. At these rates, nosotros found that Essential's initial pressure drop is around 0.024". This is very low, and barely different from the pressure drop of a MERV 1-4 fiberglass filter.

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Essential+ MERV 10 Filter

Next, nosotros'd similar to introduce our Essential+ filter. This is our MERV 10 and mid-level filter.

What does a Essential+ filter out of the air? Everything that the Essential does, so pollen, dust, dust mites, mold, and bacteria. In improver, you tin say adieu to that pet dander that's been floating around.

Who is a Essential+ perfect for? Pet owners, of course! Besides, anyone who has mild allergies or is just looking for additional filtration.

How efficient is it? MERV 10 filters should remove at least 85% of E3 particles, 65% of E2 particles, and 20% of E1 particles from the air. Our Essential+ filter removes a minimum of 87.9% of E3 particles, 65.6% of E2 particles, and 24.iv% of E1 particles. You lot know nothing much, just going in a higher place and across as usual. In the standard dust tests we conducted, Essential+ had a total particle arrestance of 92.5% (Deplorable Lite, Micro's got yous shell).

What about pressure drib? Our Essential+ filter has an initial pressure drib that'southward slightly higher than the Essential+, but not past anything significant every bit it comes in at about 0.03 WG. This is no surprise as this filter does provide an extra level of filtration.

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Wellness Shield MERV 13 Filter

Terminal, but well-nigh definitely non least, we take our Health Shield MERV 13 filter. This is our highest rated filter.

What does a Health Shield filter out of the air? The answer to this, my friend, is a whole lot. For starters, information technology filters everything that a Wellness Shield does, which includes pollen, dust, dust mites, mold, bacteria, and pet dander. And then, information technology also filters out cooking oil smoke, smoke, smog, AND virus carriers. What else is left? We sure can't recall of anything.

Who should own a Wellness Shield filter? Homeowners with more than than 1 pet in the dwelling and those who have severe allergies.

People that live in heavily polluted areas or experience fume pollution in the summertime volition do good from a Health Shield, as smoke particles are very pocket-size and hazardous to your health.

How about efficiency? As specified by NAFA, to be labeled as MERV thirteen, a filter must successfully remove at least 90% of E3 particles, 85% of E2 particles, and l% of E1 particles. Our Health Shield filter removes a minimum average of 97.ii% of E3 particles, 85.5% of E2 particles, and 50.2% of E1 particles. Every bit you can see, this filter is extremely effective. In standard grit tests that were conducted, our Health Shield filter had a full particle arrestance of 98.one% (Looks similar we accept a winner).

How's the pressure drop looking? Since it does provide the highest level of filtration, the Wellness Shield filter has the highest initial pressure drop at about 0.053 WG, which withal should not pose whatsoever threat to your HVAC system.

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Just an FYI, but filters ranging from MERV one through MERV 4 typically only remove less than 20% of E3 particles.

Well, there you lot accept it. Now you're a MERV practiced and the time has come up to choose your fighter. Will it be Essential, Essential+, or Health Shield? Make your choice here.