What MERV rating is a HEPA filter?

A HEPA is the creme de la creme of air filters with an equivalent rating of a MERV 17 or higher. A HEPA filter at a MERV 17 rating will trap 99.97% of air particles that are 0.3 microns in size, but capture an even higher percentage of particles smaller or larger than that size.

Does HEPA have a MERV rating?

All HEPA filters have a rating of a MERV 17 or higher. A HEPA filter with a MERV 17 rating will trap 99.97% of air particles that are 0.3-1.0 micron in size and an even better % of particles below 0.3 microns and above (HEPA filters are rated at their worst performance).

Is MERV 15 a HEPA?

MERV 15 & 16 Home Air Filters

The HEPA filters in our selection offer hospital-grade protection and trap most airborne particles harmful to your health.

Is MERV and HEPA the same?

HEPA Filters: High Efficiency Particulate Air

High Efficiency Particulate Air or HEPA have an even higher performance than MERV 16. While a MERV 16 filter captures >95% of particles in the entire test range (0.3-10.0 microns), a HEPA filter captures 99.97% of particles with a size of 0.3 microns.

What MERV rating should I use for COVID-19?

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.

What is a MERV Rating?

Do HEPA filters stop coronavirus?

Portable air cleaners and HVAC filters can reduce indoor air pollutants, including viruses, that are airborne. By themselves, portable air cleaners and HVAC filters are not enough to protect people from the virus that causes COVID-19.

Are MERV 11 filters good for coronavirus?

Therefore, a filter with a MERV rating of at least 13 would efficiently capture the COVID-19 virus particles, and it could help reduce the spread of COVID-19 indoors. Filters with a MERV rating of 11 can capture some coronavirus particles (65%), but MERV 13 are more effective, removing 85% of particles at 0.3 microns.

Are MERV 11 filters HEPA?

MERV 11 air filters might not trap quite as many tiny particles as a HEPA filter, but they are cost-efficient and work with a variety of types of HVAC systems.

What is the difference between a MERV 13 and a HEPA filter?

The difference between HEPA and MERV filters is the size of particles they can capture. HEPA filters capture 99.7% of particlees 0.3 microns in size. On the other hand, MERV 13 filters capture no more than 75% of 0.3-micron particles.

Is MERV 14 too high?

The abbreviation stands for Minimum Effective Reporting Value. In other words, it's a measurement showing how small the holes are in the filter. The higher the MERV number, the smaller the holes, and the less that can pass through. Ultimately, this is what makes MERV 14 filters not a good choice for home use.

Is MERV 17 a HEPA?

High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters are not MERV-rated, but a HEPA filter is typically considered as MERV 17 to 20, which is the highest group in MERV ratings. True HEPA filters have at least 99.97% efficiency in trapping 0.3-micron particles.

Is MERV 13 too restrictive?

Filters within a MERV rating of 17-20 are almost never necessary in a residential home. A MERV rating of 13-16 is considered hospital level air quality, so it is unlikely your home needs any more than that.

What is the MERV rating of a H13 HEPA filter?

The HEPA H13 and H14 in Europe is approximately equivalent to a MERV 17 or 18 in the United States.

Is MERV 11 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's better than a HEPA filter?

ULPA filters trap more and smaller particulate matter than HEPA filters. ULPA filters are 99.999% effective at removing submicron particulate matter of 0.12-micron diameter or larger, while HEPA filters are 99.97% effective for eliminating particulate matter of 0.3-micron diameter or larger.

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 a HEPA filter in my furnace?

A HEPA filter typically ranks at MERV 17-20. In most cases, the biggest rating you can safely use in your furnace is MERV 13, but we recommend consulting with a heating and cooling company like Climate Control Service Experts beforehand to keep clear of damage to your furnace.

What micron is HEPA filter?

It is an acronym for "high efficiency particulate air [filter]" (as officially defined by the U.S. Dept. of Energy). This type of air filter can theoretically remove at least 99.97% of dust, pollen, mold, bacteria, and any airborne particles with a size of 0.3 microns (µm).

Can you put a HEPA filter in a window air conditioner?

We don't recommend placing HEPA filters in or on top of your air con (air conditioning) unit. HEPA filters have a fairly high air resistance, which air conditioners are not designed to work against.

Is MERV 8 or MERV 11 better?

A MERV 11 rated filter captures 85% or better of particles between the sizes of 0.3 and 10 microns. This may not seem like a significant difference compared to the MERV 8 filter, but a MERV 11 is also more capable of capturing between 65% and 79% of smaller particles.

What is a MERV 15 filter?

MERV 15 furnace filters are highly efficient filters that ensure high purity in your air. They have a >95% Dust Spot Efficiency. These filters capture particles that are . 30-1.0 microns in size (a human hair is 60-100 microns wide).

Which mask filter is best for coronavirus?

Health care workers need priority access to a type of N95 respirator that's specially labeled “surgical.” Supplies of these can be limited, and demand for them can be high. Respirator masks, or “respirators,” like the N95 give the highest level of protection against the coronavirus, according to the CDC.

Will MERV 13 damage my furnace?

What Are MERV 13 Air Filters? 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.

What MERV rating should I get for home?

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.