What MERV Rating Is Best For My Furnace Filter?

Essentially, a MERV Rating tells you how efficient your furnace filter is.

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) created the Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) to measure your furnace filter’s efficiency. The scale ranks filters from 1-20 to tell you how efficient your furnace is at trapping small particles in your home’s air. The higher the MERV rating the more microscopic particles it will capture, meaning fewer contaminants in your air and, subsequently, your lungs.

You can also click here to learn more about which particle sizes are filtered at what rating.

Does a Higher Number Mean a Better Filter?
Just because a filter captures smaller particles doesn’t mean it’s the best air filter for your home. Most homes have filters that are rated from 8-13. These filters adequately clean pollutants like pet dander, pollen and dust from your home air. Filters with a MERV rating 14 or higher are typically used in hospitals or general surgery settings where air quality is of the utmost importance and airborne contaminants need to be removed. These types of filters are generally not required within a residential setting.

Here are some ratings and what they’re best for:

MERV 8

Pleated filter is made of synthetic material.
It will pick up most mold spores, dust mites and pet dander from the air.
This filter is best for households with few or no pets, no allergies and people who don’t smoke.

MERV 10

Will trap more micro-allergens from the air.
If you have more dust and dirt being tracked into your house, or multiple pets, this filter will help improve the air quality of your home.
This rating is much more efficient at removing particles from the air that are damaging to your health.
People who suffer from allergies can benefit from this higher rating.

MERV 13

These air filters provide excellent air filtration.
Because the synthetic materials used in MERV 13 filters are so efficient, they capture additional airborne particles such as germs spread through sneezes or tobacco smoke.
However, without regular replacement they will cause your HVAC system to work harder, ultimately increasing your energy costs.
If someone in your house smokes or suffers from severe pet allergies or asthma, they’ll likely benefit from this higher rated filter.

Before choosing a filter rating, make sure to check if your furnace has a maximum MERV rating. Most modern furnaces can use MERV 8, MERV 10, and MERV 13, but you should always check to be sure as using a higher rating than recommended could damage your system. If you need a hand, feel free to reach out to us at help@cleanairclub.ca.

With the Clean Air Club, the benefits of improved air quality (at any MERV rating) and lowered energy costs never felt so good. Let us do the work so you don’t have to! Save money, breathe easy.