How do I choose an air filter for my furnace?
How to Choose a Furnace Filter
- Choose the Right-sized Filter. Check your furnace manual for the correct sized filter, or check the existing filter to determine dimensions. …
- Choose the Right Type of Filter. …
- Understand Filter MERV Ratings. …
- How to Replace Furnace Filters. …
- Project Shopping List.
How do I know what air filter to buy for my furnace?
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First, locate the filter slot in your furnace/air handler. Some homes have filters behind their return vents as well. Furnace filter size is measured using length, width, and depth. For example, a furnace filter that measures 18”x16”x1” is 18 inches long, 16 inches wide, and 1-inch deep.
How do I know what air filter I need?
Check the old air filter for its size
The first (and easiest) way to figure out your furnace filter’s size is to check your old air filter for its size. Most air filters have their size printed on the side of the frame. The length, width, and depth of the filter are measured in inches.
How do I know what size filter my furnace takes?
Disposable Furnace Filters – How to Measure Correctly
To do so, you will need a flashlight and a stiff tape measure. Look inside the section of the furnace where the air filter should go, there should be a 1″ filter track or opening where the air filter slides into. You want your air filter to cover the duct opening.
What furnace filter rating should I use?
Using an air filter with a MERV rating of about 5 to 8 is appropriate for most residential homes. MERV 5 – MERV 8 filters provide good filtration and will remove most pollen, mold spores, and dust mites.
What MERV rating should I use in my house?
In general, the best MERV rating for a home is somewhere between 8-10. These filters will capture a large portion of the airborne particles and improve indoor air quality without making your energy costs rise significantly.
Does higher MERV rating restrict airflow?
A higher MERV rating means a higher resistance, which means less airflow. When researching HVAC systems, airflow will come up a lot. That’s because it’s very important for the performance and longevity of your furnace or your air handler. Airflow is also the key to a comfortable home.
Will a MERV 13 filter hurt my furnace?
MERV 13 air filters are the highest-rated air filters for home use. Any air filter with a rating higher than 13 will restrict air flow to the point of which could cause damage to your HVAC system, resulting in an added expense to fix it.
Is a MERV 11 filter too restrictive?
In most cases, a MERV 11 air filter isn’t too high for residential use. Generally speaking, anything under a MERV 13 air filter should provide very efficient air purification in a home without impacting airflow.
What is better MERV 6 or MERV 8?
This is your economy filter that will trap basic household dust and pollen. Get a MERV 6 if you are on a tight budget, like a college kid-type budget. It’s not the best for indoor air quality, but it will keep dust out of your air system. A MERV 8 filter traps pollen and dust, but also dust mites and mold spores.
What is MERV rating for Covid?
What kind of filter should I use in my home HVAC system to help protect my family from COVID-19? Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values, or MERV, reports a filter’s ability to capture particles. Filters with MERV-13 or higher ratings can trap smaller particles, including viruses.
How do I find the max MERV rating on my furnace?
To determine the best MERV rating for your home and HVAC system, start with the owner’s manual. Look in the manual for the listed maximum MERV rating. Using a filter with a value higher than the recommended limit immediately affects the system’s efficiency and will ultimately lead to costly future repairs.
Is MERV 7 too high?
The higher the rating of the filter is, the smaller the particles that it will capture as well as the higher the percentage of particles captured. Low-efficiency filters typically lie within MERV 1-4 and high-efficiency filters are MERV 13 and beyond.
What MERV filter does carrier recommend?
Selecting a good quality filter with 12 – 16 MERV to remove a high percentage of offending particulates. Be sure to check your filter at a minimum of once per month.
Are MERV 13 filters worth it?
A MERV 13 filter is a step in the right direction and captures more particles than a typical MERV 8 filter. However, it is not as good at capturing small virus sized particles like a HEPA can. A MERV 13 will trap less than 75% of air particles that are 0.3-1.0 micron in size (the coronavirus is 0.1 microns).
Is MERV 11 or 13 better?
MERV 11 furnace filters have a particle arrestance of a little over 90%. In comparison, MERV 13 HVAC filters have a particle arrestance of around 98%. Naturally, it is significantly more efficient. MERV 11 rated air filters are ideal for those who live in a moderately polluted area, have mild allergies, or own a pet.
Can I use MERV 11 in my furnace?
Increased usage can lead to more wear and tear, so make sure to regularly maintain your furnace. MERV 11 filters however, are not considered to be too high for residential use.
What is the most common MERV rating?
In the U.S., the MERV 8 filter has proven to be the most common filter on the market.
How long do MERV 11 filters last?
The basic recommendation for furnace filters replacement is every 3-4 months for MERV 8, every 6 months MERV 10 and 11 and every year for MERV 16.
Which is better MERV 10 or MERV 11?
MERV rating 9-12
Filters in this range can trap more than 85% of the particles sized 3.0-10.0 microns. A MERV 9 will trap less than 50% of particles sized 1.0-3.0 microns, MERV 10 will stop up to 64%, MERV 11 will get up to 79%, and MERV 12 is capable of catching up to 89%.
Why does my furnace filter get dirty so quickly?
Your filter gets clogged faster when your furnace is running more often. That’s because more air is cycled through your filter when your furnace goes through more heating cycles, so more contaminants get caught on the filter’s media. The colder it gets outside, the faster your filter will get clogged with dirt.
What is the difference between MERV 12 and 13?
MERV 10 – MERV 12 filters remove most 1.0 to 3.0 micron particles plus bigger ones. These include all those listed under MERV 8 filters plus pet dander, bacteria, most smoke/smog particles and most auto emission particles. MERV 13 – MERV 16 filters remove most . 3 – 1.0 micron particles plus bigger ones.
How often should you change a MERV 12 filter?
Your furnace’s owner’s manual will specify the best MERV rating for your furnace, and in general, filters with a MERV rating of 6 through 9 should be changed every 90 days, while those with a MERV rating of 10 through 12 should be changed every 60 days.
Can I use MERV 12 instead of MERV 11?
MERV 12 filters trap 80 to 89 percent of average particles of 1.0 to 3.0 microns, with an average particle size efficiency of 90 percent or better. As you can see, they’re pretty close. That’s why you’re just as good going with a MERV 11 as with a MERV 12.
