Table of Contents
Introduction
Air filters clear away impurities such as dust, allergens, and other small debris from the air you breathe. It not only improves the air quality of your house but also protects your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, in short, the HVAC system from damage. Air filters are not a core part of the HVAC system but play a vital role in the efficiency and overall performance of the system. Even though it’s an essential part of the system, it is often overlooked.
What are MERV Air Filters?
An air filter’s capacity to catch particles between 0.3 and 10 microns is described by its Merv, or Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values. These value ranges can help you compare the differences and performance capabilities of different filters. The greater the MERV rating is, the better it can trap dust particles.
Simply Filters is an air filter brand that makes high-quality air filters at a very reasonable price. Merv air filters purify the quality of the air that you breath and make it favorable for you, your family, and your pets’ health. Simply Filters provide graded filters ranging from 1-20. Higher-graded filters are more efficient in purifying air quality.
Differences Between MERV 8 and MERV 11 Filter
MERV 8 and MERV 11 air filters might seem almost the same, but they have some distinct differences. Let’s learn more about these two filters.
- MERV 8: MERV 8 is considered the best air filter with a lower MERV rating. It is more common and affordable than MERV 11 and mainly suitable for residential use. It has a filtration efficiency of over 80%. So it can filter out most of the contamination from the air. MERV 8 can block pollen, mold, dust mites, and larger dust particles. This filter is perfect for your home if it is not situated around a smoke-polluted area. If you or your family member has any respiratory issues, going for a higher-graded MERV filter might be your preferred choice. Also, if you own pets, MERV 8 might not be the best for you, but higher-graded ones will surely help you better.
- MERV 11: MERV 11 has a higher efficiency rating than MERV 8 and has a filtration efficiency of over 90%. So it can surely capture the smallest dust particles. It is capable of trapping pollen, dust, allergens, molds, pet dander, smoke, bacteria, smog, auto emissions, and other smaller fine dust particles. It can also trap odors. This might be the perfect air filter for you if you live around smoke-polluted areas and you or any of your family members are suffering from dust allergy or other respiratory issues. Also, getting this filter can be a great decision for you if you are a pet owner. MERV 11 might seem more expensive but can remove more pollutants than MERV 8.
MERV 8 v/s MERV 11 Filter: Which One You Should Buy?
MERV 11 can trap finer particles, but it gets clogged faster than MERV 8, so you have to replace it more frequently. MERV 8 is cheaper than MERV 11 and can capture larger particles, but it might not be suitable for you if you live in a polluted area. MERV 11 can block odors, something that MERV 8 cannot do. So which one to buy is completely up to your situation and necessity.
Conclusion
The air quality of the house has a huge impact on both your physical and mental health. It is very important to keep the air quality as good as possible. So before picking a filter for your house, you should choose wisely. Buy the one that can give you the best comfort. Choosing Simply Filters’ MERV 8 or MERV 11 air filters for your house can be a great decision!