What MERV Rating Can My Furnace Handle?

Afurnaceis a large investment that is meant to last you for decades, so you want to make sure you take proper care to maintain it as recommended. This includes changing out theair filterregularly. You also want to make sure the filters you use have an adequate MERV rating. So, you might be askingwhat MERV rating can my furnace handle?Let’s start with the basics first.

What Is MERV Rating?

MERV is an acronym that stands forminimum efficiency reporting value．它代表了在实践中评级informs how well the filter does to prevent contaminants from invading yourHVACsystem. As theEPAexplains, “the higher the MERV rating, the better the filter is at trapping specific types of particles.”

recommended merv rating chart for furnace filter selection

Recommended MERV Rating for Furnace Filters

What you should buy really depends on how cost-conscious you are versus how important it is to clean particulates from your home’s air.

The lowest range of filters haveMERV ratings of 1 to 4,他们一个re not very good for trapping small particles. They only filter out pollen, dust mites, and other particleslarger than 10 microns．You will notice the filter is flat and not pleated like its more effective counterparts.
Medium quality filter ratings range from5 to 8．They trap particlesas small as 3 microns(like dander). We recommend this as a bare minimum for most applications, but we urge you to go next level if you can afford it.

The EPA recommendsMERV ratings of 9-12because it is the most effective at keeping your home's air clean. A filter with this rating will prevent particulatesas small as 1 micronfrom entering your HVAC system. This rating qualifies as HEPA (high-efficiency particulate absorption) level.
Lastly, you can get filters thatrate 13-20, but this is overkill for most homes, and it’s expensive, and it’s probably not even compatible with your configuration. Applications for this rating include commercial heating and cooling systems, like in hospitals and in manufacturing.

Keep Your Furnace Up to Date with PlumbersStock

Now that you know what MERV rating your furnace can handle, it's time to find the bestHVAC filterfor your installation. We carry a huge inventory of discountHVAC partslikefurnace ignitors,blowers,blower wheels, and more. Did you know that you can find member pricing here on certain items (typically name brand, MAP priced items) if you log in? For industry professionals buying in bulk, please consider contacting us directly for extra special pricing and extra savings.