Is a Higher MERV Rating Hurting Your Furnace Performance? Here’s What to Know

Side-by-side infographic comparing optimal airflow in a system with a MERV 8 filter against restricted airflow and critical motor strain caused by a MERV 16 filter, illustrating the article: Is a Higher MERV Rating Hurting Your Furnace Performance? Here’s What to Know

The filter package says MERV 13 is safe for any modern furnace. Our 47-household field study says that claim falls apart in about one-third of homes. Every time, the cause traces back to one of three variables the packaging never mentions: your blower motor type, your filter slot depth, or how your ductwork was sized … Read more