Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV)

MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. An air filter’s MERV rating tells you about an HVAC air filter’s ability to capture particles between .3 and 10 microns. A micron is a very small unit of measurement, equal to one-millionth of a meter.

Dust particles, pet dander, pollen, and other pollutants smaller than the eye can see are measured in microns. To give you an idea of how small a micron is, a human hair is 50 microns in diameter! Air filters are designed to capture tiny particulates. The higher the air filter MERV rating, the more effective the filter is at capturing allergens and pollutants before they can enter your HVAC system.