What is a MERV Rating?

MERV is an acronym that stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value.

What is a MERV Rating? MERV Rating is a filter comparison system designed by an industry group called the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). Simply put, it’s a rating scale designed to allow consumers to easily compare the performance of one filter to another.

Why is there a MERV Rating? It is designed to measure a filter’s ability to capture and hold particles and pollutants. The higher the MERV rating, the more particles – dust mites, pet dander, air allergens, etc – your filter will remove from the air. Of course, screening out more particles from your air makes your air handler work a bit harder, so you may see a modest increase in power consumption by your air conditioning or furnace unit when choosing a higher MERV Rating.

How a MERV Rating benefits you? Matching the right MERV rating to your needs will improve your home’s air quality and will extend the life of your furnace or air conditioner.

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