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MERV level on home AC filters in South Louisiana
Posted on 5/20/24 at 9:02 am
Posted on 5/20/24 at 9:02 am
With the dog days of Summer sort of upon us already, what's the MERV level of the air filters for your home's AC?
I was using an 11 level filter geared toward eliminating allergens and odors, but noticed when the temperatures outside got above 90 degrees yesterday, the AC struggled to keep the pace.
I'm running a level 8 filter as of this morning and hoping for more efficiency.
Are thick filters with all the bells and whistles just too thick for South Louisiana in the Summer?
I was using an 11 level filter geared toward eliminating allergens and odors, but noticed when the temperatures outside got above 90 degrees yesterday, the AC struggled to keep the pace.
I'm running a level 8 filter as of this morning and hoping for more efficiency.
Are thick filters with all the bells and whistles just too thick for South Louisiana in the Summer?
7
Posted on 5/20/24 at 9:07 am to Hoodie
I use MERV 16 but they have ultra low pressure drop. Obviously to get that level of filtration and low pressure drop requires some $$. They are about $100 each and I replace them every 2 years.
Posted on 5/20/24 at 9:44 am to Hoodie
For standard 1-inch thick return grill filters MERV 4 changed monthly - anything significantly higher can vastly increase total external static pressure (TESP, resistance to airflow) and overtime reduce the life span of the HVAC.
The system has to work harder, blower motors, etc to overcome resistance to airflow with a restrictive filter. With a PSC blower motor air flow will be reduced with higher TESP, with EMC blower motor air flow may not be reduced as it will ramp up to try to overcome higher TESP but it will reduce the life span of a very expensive motor.
For thicker filters, 2 inch to 5 inch thick, then higher MERV 8 to 12-15 can be acceptable with minimal increase in TESP. One of my 2 return air grills can accommodate a 2 inch thick filter, so I use MERV 8 in that one.
The purpose of the filter is to protect the HVAC equipment not to improve IAQ for the occupants. If IAQ is a priority then I’d consider other options to deal with that - this is assuming your HVAC can only accommodate a 1-inch thick filter.
The system has to work harder, blower motors, etc to overcome resistance to airflow with a restrictive filter. With a PSC blower motor air flow will be reduced with higher TESP, with EMC blower motor air flow may not be reduced as it will ramp up to try to overcome higher TESP but it will reduce the life span of a very expensive motor.
For thicker filters, 2 inch to 5 inch thick, then higher MERV 8 to 12-15 can be acceptable with minimal increase in TESP. One of my 2 return air grills can accommodate a 2 inch thick filter, so I use MERV 8 in that one.
The purpose of the filter is to protect the HVAC equipment not to improve IAQ for the occupants. If IAQ is a priority then I’d consider other options to deal with that - this is assuming your HVAC can only accommodate a 1-inch thick filter.
Posted on 5/20/24 at 10:09 am to Hoodie
I use MERV 13 filters but they are 5 inches thick.
Posted on 5/20/24 at 10:41 am to Hoodie
Piggybacking on this: my hvac guy recommended I change the furnace filter a while back, so I swapped it with a MERV 11 furnace filter. I’ve also always run MERV 1 return air filters. Haven’t had any issues with my system and it’s 10+ years old now, but is that overkill? Should I ditch the furnace filter and run a MERV 5 or something in the return air or vice versa?
Posted on 5/20/24 at 1:42 pm to Hoodie
My parents were having AC problems a few months ago. The repair guy said he uses the cheap filters. He said the high end ones tend to restrict air flow too much and that can cause problems.
Posted on 5/20/24 at 2:06 pm to Hoodie
quote:
Are thick filters with all the bells and whistles just too thick for South Louisiana in the Summer?
They can be for many places, especially in older units.
I had a heating and air guy tell me once, "If you have allergies and want super clean air in your house, use the high end filters that filter everything. If you want your new, expensive as hell unit to last, use the cheapest filters you can find."
He then told me that since he's in the bidness of fixing units that he'd suggest running the best, thickest, smallest-micron-catching filters I could find......with a wink and a nod.
Posted on 5/20/24 at 6:44 pm to Hoodie
I just use the cheap filters and change them out once a month.
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