If you're in the market for a new furnace filter, you may be overwhelmed by the different ratings and classifications available. MERV, MPR and FPR are all terms used to describe the efficiency of air filters, but what do they mean? In this article, we'll explain the differences between these ratings and provide a helpful chart to help you compare them. MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. It is a rating system developed by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) to measure the effectiveness of air filters.
The MERV rating is based on a single broad-based metric that measures how well a filter can remove particles from the air. The higher the MERV rating, the more efficient the filter is at removing particles from the air. MPR stands for Microparticle Performance Rating. It is a rating system developed by 3M to measure the effectiveness of air filters. The MPR rating is based on four specific metrics that measure how well a filter can remove particles from the air.
The higher the MPR rating, the more efficient the filter is at removing particles from the air. FPR stands for Filter Performance Rating. It is a rating system developed by Home Depot to measure the effectiveness of air filters. The FPR rating is based on four specific metrics that measure how well a filter can remove particles from the air. The higher the FPR rating, the more efficient the filter is at removing particles from the air. When it comes to buying an air filter, it's important to understand how these ratings compare to each other.
To help you compare MERV, MPR and FPR ratings, we've created two helpful charts: one that shows how MERV ratings compare to FPR ratings and one that shows how FPR ratings compare to MERV ratings.
MERV vs FPR Chart
MERV | FPR1-4 | 15-8 | 29-12 | 313-16 | 417-20 | 5FPR vs MERV Chart
FPR | MERV1 | 1-42 | 5-83 | 9-124 | 13-165 | 17-20Understanding Filter Efficiency Ratings
MERV Rating:The higher the MERV rating, the more efficient it is at removing particles from the air. However, if your MERV rating is too high (above MERV 13), it can increase system backpressure and block airflow through your central air system, reducing its efficiency.
MPR Rating:
The higher the MPR rating, the more efficient it is at removing particles from the air. However, if your MPR rating is too high (above MPR 1500), it can increase system backpressure and block airflow through your central air system, reducing its efficiency.
FPR Rating:
The higher the FPR rating, the more efficient it is at removing particles from the air. However, if your FPR rating is too high (above FPR 10), it can increase system backpressure and block airflow through your central air system, reducing its efficiency.
Conclusion
< p > When it comes to buying an air filter for your furnace or HVAC system, understanding how different ratings compare to each other can help you make an informed decision about which filter will best suit your needs. We hope this article has helped you understand how MERV, MPR and FPR ratings compare to each other and has given you some helpful charts to use when shopping for a new filter.< / p >.