Merv furnace filter ratings

J

Jdeere562

Joined
Oct 10, 2021
Messages
3,313
i had Merv 10 last year.
Pretty much had to change it every week, or the air flow was reduced.
I DON'T have a clean house by any means and seldom vacuum.

Having the Daughter just pick me up some of those cheap fiberglass filters. Merv 4 ratings.

Thoughts other than better house cleaning? :mad:
 
Thoughts other than better house cleaning? The ducts probably need cleaned.

I know your in a bad position but many people live in a dirty house. Nasty blinds that suck to clean, window treatments full of nasty dust and that needed washed or replaced like 3 years ago. Dust under the beds, behind and under furniture.... . Nasty carpet, rugs.... . If you guys have wall-to-wall carpet, go along the edge using a shop vac with a brush attachment and while your at it, use it on your lamp shades, too. Ceiling fans are often nasty on the top side.
 
I run the "basic filter" in the house HVAC.
For my home air filters I run merv 13 to 16 depending how on fire California is.
My pm2.5 is something like 4 micro grams per cubic meter of air. That seems like a pretty tiny amount.
 
I use a merv 5 all the time. I think it's the best ballance between good air flow and filtration of debris.
 
i was using those allergy reduction pleated filters. My HVAC guy saw them and said "Do you sleep with your head under the blanket? Well that's what you're making your unit do." Ever since I use spun fiberglass and change every 30 days.
 
I use the Merv 2 filtrete see-through ones. Maybe I need to step up my Merv level but they stay clean for months (maybe because they don’t catch anything). I was always under the impression that unless you had the 4” thick ones it was best to just toss the rock catcher type in. I’ve been waiting for HVAC replacements to add the 4” filters.
 
I use the cheaper pleated style. avoid the fiberglass type.
merv or FPR 5-6-7-8

Higher numbers can have more pleats but be too restrictive.
this is for 1"filters.
those 4" or 5" thick type are a different animal.
 
Maybe I should just fab up an old door screen.
Long as I don't hear tink-tink-tink when stuff hits the fan.;)

I could care less about the ducts. Might be here another year or two max.
Let the next owner deal with the problem.:ROFLMAO:
 
I went from the super high MERV to a MERV 8 which solved my issue of the 100,000 BTU Nat Gas furnace tripping a limit switch

Ever since going to a MERV 8 I've had much better heating and cooling performance
 
Jdeere562 said:
i had Merv 10 last year.
Pretty much had to change it every week, or the air flow was reduced.
I DON'T have a clean house by any means and seldom vacuum.

Having the Daughter just pick me up some of those cheap fiberglass filters. Merv 4 ratings.

Thoughts other than better house cleaning? :mad:
Click to expand...
Every week?? Yikes! Something is very out of kilter. You need to identify your huge source of dust.

You went from one extreme to the other, with the 10 being overly restrictive and now the 4 allowing particles to pass through and clog your fan, ducts etc.. By the way, has your furnace been inspected lately for clogged fans, cracked exchanger, etc..?

I would experiment with an 8, then maybe a 6. Pleated ones are considered better than fiberglass in any MERV rating. 8 is considered the smallest number to use in residential non-allergy situations.
 
Merv4 is pretty much a screen.

I think a Merv 6 is the minimum to even collect dust. I wouldn't go below that.

How big is your air intake filter(s) size, and what size air handler do you have? Is it maybe you don't have enough intake?

I know things can get dusty in farm country this time of year especially.
 
doitmyself said:
Every week?? Yikes! Something is very out of kilter. You need to identify your huge source of dust.

You went from one extreme to the other, with the 10 being overly restrictive and now the 4 allowing particles to pass through and clog your fan, ducts etc.. By the way, has your furnace been inspected lately for clogged fans, cracked exchanger, etc..?

I would experiment with an 8, then maybe a 6. Pleated ones are considered better than fiberglass in any MERV rating. 8 is considered the smallest number to use in residential non-allergy situations.
Click to expand...
It is inspected and cleaned every year.

Small house, filter is 16x16x1''

I'm an old man. Can no longer get on my knees to change filters. Must pull up a chair and bend over for the swap.
 
My wife and I are 68 and her mobility is going downhill fast due to car accident implications. She already requires a scooter chair.

We are adjusting our lifestyles at every opportunity. Is there anything you can do to make life easier? Any friends or relatives that can take over some of your difficult tasks? Make your home more care free?

Anecdote: My great grandfather farmer lived unassisted in his home til age 94. Very spry. Still drove a car. He smoked, drank, and ate eggs/bacon/oatmeal every morning. I hope I inherited his longevity genes, lol.

Best wishes to you adapting your lifestyle to find some enjoyment each and every day. Old age is scary.
 
I've seen it said that the typical furnace 1" filter, not the fancy setups, is to protect the furnace, not clean the air. :unsure:

I typically buy the Merv 7-8 filters, because they're relatively cheap, and still have some effectiveness without overly restricting air flow.

I get allergies, but am not a severe sufferer, but if that were the case, I'd look into an air purifier, which aren't that expensive to buy. But dunno about the consumables (filter) costs for them.
 
Merv 12 here wouldn't run anything less, I like to use filters that actually filter.

There are many ways to solve airflow issues.

HVAC people want you to use cheap filters so they can sell you cleanings.
 
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