As a homeowner, you take great pride in your home and keeping the interior fresh and clean. One of the essential items you need is the right air filter for your air conditioner.
MERV 13 filters are among the best for indoor air quality in your home. They are the highest-rated among the filters created for residential use. MERV 13 filters can block almost all of the contaminants in the air, trapping particles between 0.3 and 1.0 microns in size. This means they are capable of filtering airborne illnesses, air pollution, and smoke.
What Do MERV 13 Filters Remove from Homes?
MERV 13 filters are capable of filtering out a variety of particles between 0.3 and 10 microns, making them more adept at clearing contaminants and smaller particles from your air. The EPA states that MERV 13 filters have 90% efficiency in capturing particles between 3.0 and 10 microns. For particles between 1.0 and 3.0 microns, it has 85% efficiency. Additionally, particles between 0.3 and 1.0 microns can be removed with 50% efficiency through MERV 13 filters.
Most filters can filter out dust, lint, dust mites, and pollen. However, MERV 13 filters go above and beyond to filter out smog, smoke, viruses, bacteria, microscopic allergens, mold, pet dander, and exhaust fumes. It should be noted that if you have more than one pet, these filters are efficient at filtering pet dander.
Even though MERV 13 filters are efficient, they may not be ideal for your home. You may not need to use something this powerful if you do not have pets or health concerns or live in an area with little outdoor pollution.
It also depends on your air conditioning system. MERV 13 filters can be taxing on the system because they reduce airflow. These filters are far denser. With airflow reduction, it can force your HVAC system to run longer and work harder. Eventually, this could cause the compressor to overheat and lead to expensive repairs.
How to Know If MERV 13 Air Filters Are Right for Your Home
For many homes, MERV 13 air filters are the best choice to protect you and your family. However, you should make sure your system can use these filters. You can look in your AC system’s manual or consult an HVAC professional to know which MERV rating is ideal for your HVAC system.
The right one for you will increase the efficiency of your HVAC system. If your system doesn’t benefit from MERV 13 filters, others will provide efficient air filtering at a slightly lower rating. For systems that can use MERV 13 filters, you will find it is the perfect balance of function for your air conditioner as well as top-quality air inside your home.