Currently, ASHRAE recommends using at least a MERV 13 filter, which has a minimum efficiency of 85% to capture particles in a size range of 1 μm to 3 μm. A MERV 14 filter has an efficiency of at least 90% to capture those same particles. With the recommendation of a MERV 13 or higher, does this type of filter meet your needs? A MERV 13 filter is a step in the right direction and captures more particles than a typical MERV 8 filter. However, it's not as good at capturing small virus-sized particles as HEPA can.
It will trap less than 75% of air particles that are 0.3 to 1.0 microns in size (the coronavirus measures 0.1 microns). It is also difficult for many existing HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) systems to adopt a MERV 13 because of the increased fan load due to the finer filter medium, which, in fact, can cause more harm than good, in addition to reducing airflow if the system is not designed to support that type of filter. On average, many installations are limited to a MERV 8 or MERV 9 type filter. To help protect against the COVID-19 virus, ASHRAE changed its recommendation from MERV 8 filters to MERV 13 and higher.
When considering the use of a MERV 13 filter, it is important to understand that it will not be able to capture all airborne particles. While it will be able to capture larger particles such as dust and pollen, it will not be able to capture smaller particles such as bacteria and viruses. For this reason, it is important to consider other options such as HEPA filters if you are looking for maximum protection against airborne contaminants. In addition, it is important to consider the cost associated with using a MERV 13 filter.
While they are more expensive than lower rated filters, they can provide better protection against airborne contaminants. Therefore, it is important to weigh the cost versus the benefits when deciding whether or not to use a MERV 13 filter. Overall, when deciding whether or not to use a MERV 13 filter, it is important to understand that it will provide better protection against larger airborne particles than lower rated filters. However, it will not be able to capture smaller particles such as bacteria and viruses.
Therefore, it is important to consider other options such as HEPA filters if you are looking for maximum protection against airborne contaminants.
