MERV ratings are a standard measure of a filter's ability to remove particles from the air in your home. The MERV rating scale ranges from 1 to 20, and lower scores indicate a lower quality filter. Furnace filters with MERV ratings between 6 and 8 are the cheapest and are considered to be the minimum of efficiency. However, if your family has allergies or asthma, a higher MERV score will be beneficial.
A filter with a MERV rating of around 10 to 12 is sufficient to remove most of the particles that cause allergies from the air in the house. Filters with a MERV rating of 8 to 13 are usually high-end filters for household use or high-quality commercial filters. Having filters with the correct MERV rating is essential to ensure that the air is well filtered without overloading the HVAC system. Activities such as renovating the home, leaving outside doors and having children play in the house can accelerate the accumulation of dust and particles in the air filter.
A clogged air filter allows dust to build up inside the system, allowing more contaminants to enter the air in the house and restricting air flow to the boiler or air conditioner, causing the equipment to overheat and fail. Choosing the right oven filter is about balancing indoor air quality with the capabilities of your air conditioning system. A residential system will not accept filters with a MERV rating greater than 12, unless it has been previously adapted for a higher efficiency filter. Overall, our recommended MERV rating for oven filters ranges from 6 to 8 to achieve a great balance between maximum oven efficiency and home comfort.
