When it comes to eliminating the smallest airborne allergens, such as pet dander, air filters with a MERV rating of 10 or higher are the best option. If your air conditioner motor can handle a MERV 11 filter, it's an ideal choice for households with pets or children who are prone to allergies. But what is the filtration efficiency of a MERV 8, 10, or 13 filter?The National Air Filtration Association (NAFA) classifies a filter as a MERV 8 if it filters at least 70% of E3 particles (3.0-10.0 µm) and 20% of E2 particles (1.0-3.0 µm). Additionally, it must filter 30% of E2 particles and 1.9% of E1 particles (0.3-1.0 µm).
Unfortunately, since it is a MERV 8 filter, it is not designed to trap the smallest particles that fall into category E1, such as pet dander. Essential was found to have a stop rate of 81.5% after performing standard dust tests. This means that 81.5% of the dust particles introduced into the filter were successfully filtered out of the air. However, for optimal protection against pet dander and other allergens, you should opt for a higher MERV filter performance rating between 8 and 13. MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Report Value and is used to evaluate the efficiency of an air filter based on its effectiveness in capturing particles of different sizes. To reduce the amount of airborne particles that cause pet allergies, make sure to adjust the filter oven properly and avoid low-cost filters. For additional filtration of smoke, chemicals, odors and gases, consider combining HEPA filters with activated carbon filters.
HEPA filters are highly recommended by medical experts for people who are allergic to allergens, debris, or dust due to their excellent capabilities. The worst percentage of six tests is selected as the official measure used to determine the MERV rating of a filter. Finer particles will have no problem passing through a fiberglass filter, while larger particles will be filtered less effectively than with a pleated filter. In conclusion, if you're looking for an oven filter for pet dander and allergies, choose one with a higher MERV filter performance rating between 8 and 13.
