Another undesired effect of this decrease in airflow is on the cooling side. The air conditioner has a hot coil outside, the condenser and a cold coil inside the air controller. This cold coil has a specific preferred operating temperature. That temperature is based on a certain amount of hot air flowing through that coil and on the coolant that passes through that coil's copper tubing.
With a higher MERV filter that reduces airflow through this crucial part of the air conditioning system, the cold coil can eventually freeze and become an ice ball, completely restricting airflow. Without giving more details, this causes more costly problems with the condenser's outer coil. With the recommendation of a MERV 13 or higher, does a MERV 13 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 particles the size of a virus as a HEPA does.
A MERV 13 will trap less than 75% of air particles between 0.3 and 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 due to the increased load on the fan due to the finer filter medium, which can actually cause more harm than good and reduce airflow if the system is not designed to withstand that type of filter. On average, many installations are limited to one type of MERV 8 or MERV 9 filter. An incompatible filter can damage the compressor, break the heat exchanger, or cause carbon monoxide to accumulate in the home.
The MERV (Minimum Efficiency Information Value) scale is used to rate air filters in terms of their effectiveness in trapping contaminants. MERV 13 filters will provide better indoor air quality if you live in a place with a lot of air pollution. While MERV 8 filters can capture pollen, MERV 13 filters can capture other microscopic allergens that can reduce symptoms in allergy sufferers. The highest-rated filters are designed for healthcare and laboratory environments with excellent air quality and air conditioning systems that can process high-efficiency filters.
When choosing between the MERV 8 and MERV 13 filters, you should consider what you want to be filtered out of the air and why. Therefore, MERV 13 air filters are ideal for homes with newborn babies and people with allergies, asthma, COPD, lung diseases or other health problems. If you need better filtration and your air conditioning system can do it, the MERV 13 may be a better choice. MERV 8 filters may be enough to trap a pet's hair and dander, but MERV 13 filters are better for homes with several pets.
A HEPA filter is essentially the ultimate solution in the world of air filters and far exceeds what a MERV 13 can do. While air filter ratings may seem relatively unimportant, air filters affect indoor air quality.
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