Mulberry, AR – HVAC Expert Explains The Difference Between HEPA and MERV Filters

Unquestionably, you want your family to live in a healthy home. Poor indoor air quality often affects our health, causing sneezing and sniffling and a host of other allergy and asthma-like symptoms. With a great HVAC filter, most issues like these are easily avoidable. The problem is, a Google search suggests both HEPA filters and MERV filters as the best and you aren’t sure which option to choose. We are here to help.

What are MERV Filters?

MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. It’s a rating system that tells air filters apart. The higher the MERV rating, the better the filter does at filtering out air pollutants that contribute to viruses, allergies, and other irritants for members of your household.

MERV filter ratings range from 1 to16. Most AC filters used in home HVAC systems in Birmingham use MERV filters with ratings between 1 and 4. If you want to upgrade to a higher quality filter, reach out to an HVAC company in Alma first since you need to ensure your system gets sufficient airflow.

What are HEPA Filters?

HEPA stands for high-efficiency particulate air filters. They meet stringent air filtration standards, which in the U.S. means the HEPA filter must be capable of filtering out 99.97% of small particles in the air. These filters are not rated on the MERV scale but surprisingly to many people, actually exceed MERV’s 16’s filtration capabilities!

In homes with allergy sufferers, high-grade HEPA filters actually work better than MERV filters and are recommended by experts. It could be worth the upgrade if you want to kick some of your allergy symptoms to the curb. Again, reach out to our professional HVAC technicians in Alma to make this upgrade to ensure it works with your HVAC system without interfering with airflow.

Which Filter is Best?

So, which filter is the best, HEPA or MERV? There is not a single answer to this question because the answer depends on the specific issues you experience in your home. An indoor air quality test is the best way to determine which air filter you need to create a healthier, cleaner home for your family.

Rice Heating and Air are a full-service HVAC Contractor headquartered in Alma, AR.  The company specializes in air conditioning repair, AC installations, indoor air quality systems, heating repair, and furnace installations. Rice Heating and Air are focused on helping homeowners and businesses stay comfortable year-round. We are your comfort experts.

Call us today for any of your heating and cooling needs.