When it comes to maintaining your central heating and cooling system, a clean filter is essential to enhance indoor air quality and keep your AC and furnace running efficiently. There are many filters on the market, and the easiest way to gauge a particular type's effectiveness is to look at its MERV rating. Here's a closer look at this scale and what it means. 

What Does MERV Stand For?

MERV is an acronym that stands for minimum efficiency reporting value. Regarding central heating and cooling units, this rating system is specific to air filters. It measures how effectively a screen traps dust, allergens, and other contaminants so that they don't make their way into a home's ductwork and through the vents.

How Does the Rating System Work?

The MERV rating scale goes from one to 20. The higher the rating, the more effective an air filter is at trapping small particles and preventing dust and debris from making their way into your living spaces. Filters rated between 1 and 4 capture roughly 20% of large particles. When a filter has a rating from 5 to 8, at least 69% of large particles will be caught. 

Filters with a rating between 8 and 16 MERV will start to capture the smallest particles. In the 17 to 20 range, virtually all of the finest particles will be trapped. 

What Filter Is Best for Your Central Heating & Cooling System?

Generally, residential air filters should have a MERV rating somewhere between 5 and 8 at minimum. When you have pets or a member of your household is sensitive to dust, pollen, or other allergens, a higher rating between 8 and 12 could be beneficial. 

Filters rated higher than 12 are only necessary for commercial settings where the highest level of air quality is essential, such as hospitals, laboratory settings, and surgical rooms. Most residential HVAC systems are not designed to push air through the powerful screens near the top of the MERV scale.

If you're overdue for an air quality inspection of your central heating and cooling system, the dedicated crew at A-Team Services Heating and Air is ready to step in. As a family-owned and -operated business based in Marietta, GA, these HVAC contractors have proudly served all of Cobb County since 1999, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To schedule an appointment, call (770) 343-3507. For more information on their commitment to clean, breathable air, visit their website.