For most homes, maintaining the quality of indoor air is a huge concern. Since the air moving throughout your house can quite easily carry with it contaminants like normal dust; pet dander; mold and mildew; cooking smoke and cigarette smoke; and bacteria and viruses, especially like the highly contagious COVID-19. To keep these contaminants at bay and from circulating in your house, it is extremely important to replace your air filter at fixed intervals.
And while it is wise to change your air filter, it is even more crucial to know whether the filter is capable of tackling dangerous contaminants. One way of checking an air filter’s true capability is to take a look at MERV filter ratings.
MERV, which stands for minimum efficiency reporting value, is a measurement of particles’ size an air filter can get rid of as the air moves through an HVAC system. Air filters with higher MERV ratings are better as they can effectively deal with smaller particles. And since it is those particles that are smaller in size that pose the most danger, it is recommended to go with replacement air filters with higher MERV ratings.
For most homes, an air filter with a MERV rating of 8 will suffice as it is capable of removing pet dander, mold spores, and other similar contaminants quite easily. At LakeAir, you can get air filters of different MERV ratings. We recommend our MERV 11 filters as they can get rid of contaminants like pollen, pet dander, smoke, mold, and other allergy-causing contaminants. If you choose to go with even higher MERV ratings such as 12 or 13, then do know that such filters can affect HVAC systems rather negatively. Air filters of such ratings can limit the airflow of the system. Before you think of using such air filters, it is best to call over a professional to assess whether your HVAC can even handle such a filter or not.
If you still want an air filter of higher MERV rating, let’s say as high as 16, then we’ll recommend our LakeAir’s Electrostatic Air Filters. They are just as effective as MERV 16 air filters. You don’t need to replace them. You’ll just need to wash them regularly.
For more information, you can always get in touch with LakeAir to discuss what your air filter requirements are and which one would be best suitable for your needs.