Consider Merv Ratings of Filters For Air Conditioner

If you have ever visited a hardware shop to purchase air filters then you must have heard about MERV. Although most of us have heard about it, few of us know about MERV in details. When you are out in the market to buy filters for replacement then it is important that you consider the MERV ratings. But before that you need to know what it is, how it works and why is it important to consider its rating before buying AC filters. MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value and is a measurement scale which is used to rate the effectiveness of the filters. Designed by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-conditioning Engineers in 1987, the scale is used to measure the performance of the filters and represents the efficiency of the filters in the worst case performance. It is recorded by the ability of filter while dealing with particles of 0.3 to 10 microns. The ones which have higher MERV rating have greater percentage to capture particles on each round. The ratings decide the precision and accuracy in the performance of a filter and highlight the overall functioning of the filters. The rating also indicates improved health, reduced cost and energy efficiency in the HVAC system. The MERV rating of the filters range between 1 to 20 and is generally measured in microns. When it's time for air conditioner filter replacement then do check out the MERV ratings. Purchasing filter with higher MERV rating would mean that you are investing your money in the right product. However it also depends on the places where the filters are used. Generally the filters with MERV rating of 17 to 20 are used in hospitals and pharmaceutical manufacturing cleanroom. For residential purpose, you can use filters with MERV rating 8 to 11. Those which fall under this range are considered to be ideal for domestic use. These filters have the ability to trap mold, spores, cat and dog danders and dusting aids. They give better residential protection and are better options for commercial and industrial purpose. If you want more details on the MERV ratings then you can go through the online sites of filter delivery companies. Most of the online companies list the properties of the filters where they also mention the MERV rating of the filters. You can also use the delivery services of the companies to buy air conditioner filters for replacement.