What is a MERV Rating?

21 Dec What is a MERV Rating?

Posted at 16:51h in TLAirPost by

Understand how clean your air truly is!

Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values, or MERVs, is the primary rating system for an HVAC filter’s ability to capture particles between 0.3 and 10 microns (µm). The higher the rating number, means a larger percentage of particles in the air can be treated. MERV ratings go from MERV 1 all the way up to 20.

 

Here are the different levels of MERV ratings and what they address concerning your indoor air:

MERV RATING HOW CLEAN IS YOUR AIR WITH THIS RATING? WHAT IS BEING FILTERED?
MERV 1 20% of the reachable air is filtered to capture 3-10 microns (µm) particles
  • Pollen
  • Dust mites
  • Sanding dust
  • Spray paint dust
  • Textile / Carpet fibers
MERV 2 20% of the reachable air is filtered to capture 3-10 µm particles
MERV 3 20% of the reachable air is filtered to capture 3-10 µm particles
MERV 4 20% of the reachable air is filtered to capture 3-10 µm particles
MERV 5 20-35% of the reachable air is filtered to capture 3-10 µm particles
  • Mold spores
  • Dust lint
  • Cement dust
  • Cooking dusts
MERV 6 35-50% of the reachable air is filtered to capture 3-10 µm particles
MERV 7 50% of the reachable air is filtered to capture 3-10 µm particles
MERV 8 70% of the reachable air is filtered to capture 3-10 µm particles,and less than 20% for 1-3 µm particles
MERV 9 85% of the reachable air is filtered to capture 3-10 µm particles,
less than 50% for 1-3 µm particles, less than 20% for .3-1 µm particles
  • Lead dusts
  • Auto fumes
  • Bacteria
  • Pet dander
MERV 10 More than 85% of the reachable air is filtered to capture 3-10 µm particles,
50-64% for 1-3 µm particles, less than 20% for .3-1 µm particles
MERV 11 More than 85% of the reachable air is filtered to capture 3-10 µm particles,
65-79% for 1-3 µm particles, less than 20% for .3-1 µm particles
MERV 12 More than 90% of the reachable air is filtered to capture 3-10 µm particles,
80-90% for 1-3 µm particles, less than 20% for .3-1 µm particles
MERV 13 More than 90% of the reachable air is filtered to capture 1-10 µm particles,
less than 75% for .3-1 µm particles
  • Biological pathogens
  • Virus particles
MERV 14 More than 90% of the reachable air is filtered to capture 1-10 µm particles,
75-84% for .3-1 µm particles
MERV 15 More than 90% of the reachable air is filtered to capture 1-10 µm particles,
85%-94% for .3-1 µm particles
MERV 16 More than 95% of the reachable air is filtered to capture 1-10 µm particles,
more than 90% for .3-1 µm particles
MERV 17 More than 99% of the reachable air is filtered to capture 1-10 µm particles,
99.97% for .3-1 µm particles
MERV 18 More than 99% of the reachable air is filtered to capture 1-10 µm particles,
99.997% for .3-1 µm particles
MERV 19 More than 99% of the reachable air is filtered to capture 1-10 µm particles,
99.9997% for .3-1 µm particles
MERV 20 More than 99% of the reachable air is filtered to capture 1-10 µm particles,
99.99997% for .3-1 µm particles


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