For most homes, a MERV 8 to 11 pleated filter is the sweet spot: it catches dust, pollen, pet dander and mold spores without choking airflow. If someone in the home has allergies or asthma, or wildfire smoke is a regular problem, MERV 13 captures much finer particles, but only if your system is designed to move air through it.
Higher isn’t automatically better. A dense filter in a system that can’t handle it restricts airflow, which makes a furnace overheat and trip its safety switch, freezes an AC coil and raises your energy bill. A deeper 4- or 5-inch media cabinet lets you use a high-MERV filter without that penalty. Whatever you use, check it monthly and change it every one to three months, more often during dusty, smoky or high-use stretches.
Our St. George & Hurricane team can install a media filter cabinet or whole-home air purifier as part of indoor air quality service. Filter checks are part of every heating and AC tune-up from our St. George & Hurricane team.
