If you own a forced air furnace, one of your most important tasks is to regularly check and change its filters. A clogged filter will lose its ability to blocking the microorganisms, dander, and other contaminants that fly around inside your home, leaving your immune system with fewer resources left to fight bigger battles.
A clean air filter will also prevent your equipment from overworking, which means lower energy bills, less maintenance, and a longer lifespan for your equipment.
When it comes time to buy a replacement HVAC filter, one thing you’ll notice is that there is an alphabet soup of acronyms to sort through, including terms like MERV, MPR, FPR. Each of these terms refers to a system that uses numbers to describe the tightness of the filter weave, with higher numbers indicating finer filtration; the only difference among the three systems is who manufactured them.
Here’s a conversion table of MERV, MPR and FPR ratings for common residential usage (higher-valued filters are often used in hospitals and operating rooms, but are not necessary for home use):
MERV rating | MPR rating | FPR rating | Removes |
6 | 300 | N/A | Lint, dust, pollen |
8 | 600 | 5 | Dust mites, mold spores |
11 | 1000-1200 | 7 | Pet dander, smoke, smog |
13 | 1500-1900 | 10 | Bacteria, virus carriers |
Need furnace maintenance in Rhode Island? Trust the pros at Vaughn Oil. Contact us today to schedule a visit from our heating experts.
Please note: At Pioneer Oil and Propane, your safety and comfort are always our priority. Please see our Covid-19 Service Update Page to learn more about how we are working to keep our your family and our crews safe and your home cooling and heating systems working through this challenging time.