Comfort & air
MERV
Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, the 1 to 20 rating for how well an air filter captures particles. Higher MERV catches smaller particles: MERV 8 handles dust and pollen; MERV 13 also captures smoke, bacteria-sized particles, and most allergens.
Why it matters for your home
St. Louis allergy seasons are serious, and the right filter helps, but higher MERV also resists airflow more. Jumping to a high-MERV filter in a system that wasn't designed for it can starve airflow and strain the blower. The honest answer is the highest MERV your system can breathe through, which is worth asking about at a maintenance visit.
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