Merv 8 vs Merv 13 filter
Shawnnixon1
| Posted in General Questions on
I have an ERV that came stock with MERV 13 for fresh air intake filter, MERV 6 on supply to house, they have optional HELA and MERV 8.
How much less airflow restriction will I get by switching to MERV8 or MERV 6?
ERV: Panasonic ERV Intelli Balance 200
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Replies
Pressure drop varies by filter. More surface area/thicker filter/more pleats usually means less pressure drop for a given merv rating. A 2 inch thick merv 8 filter would usually have less pressure drop than a 1 inch thick filters. I'd go for the largest and thickest filter you can fit, and then potentially the lowest merv rating that is satisfactory for you and the erv if you need even less resistance or longer filter life. Larger/thicker/lower merv filters also usually last longer. I wouldn't go below merv 8. Many filters list pressure drop at different speeds though not all.