What Is Mpr Rating For Filters

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Shopping for air filters doesn't need to be hard. Unfortunately, it is a little more complicated than it should exist. With different filter ratings invented by various institutions, information technology can be difficult to decipher exactly which air filter rating you should apply.

In this article, I'll discuss the MPR rating calibration and help you lot figure out what MPR filter rating you lot should use in your home's HVAC system.

What MPR filter exercise you demand?

For nearly residential homes, a filter with an MPR 600 rating will be sufficient to filter out most dust, pollen, and mold.

If you're familiar with the MERV rating scale, so an MPR 600 filter is roughly equivalent to a MERV 7 air filter. However, an MPR 600 air filter exceeds the requirements of MERV seven air filters since they are tested to filter out more microparticles than a standard MERV 7 filter.

Quick Pick: MPR 600 Air Filters

If you lot have allergies or pets, I recommend using a filter with an MPR 1000 rating to filter out pocket-sized particles such equally pet dander, fine grit, and smoke.

MPR 1000 air filters are roughly equivalent to a MERV 11 air filter. However, like MPR 600 air filters, MPR thou air filters will filter out more microparticles than their MERV-rated counterparts.

Best Air Filters for Allergies

Filtrete Micro Allergen Air Filters

These MERV 11 filters will capture particles such every bit fine dust, pollen, and pet dander. Perfect to help preclude seasonal allergies.

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Higher-rated MPR filters are more efficient at filtering out pocket-sized particles. Simply this doesn't mean that you should automatically get for the highest-rated MPR filter for your home'due south HVAC system.

I reason is that the more efficient a filter is, the more expensive it will be. If you are replacing the highest-rated MPR filters every month, so your filter neb volition add upwardly apace.

Another reason is that filters with high-efficiency ratings tend to impede airflow. While this isn't equally much of a problem every bit information technology was in the past (due to modern engineering), it is definitely still a point to consider. Especially if you're trying to proceed your energy costs down.

I final reason is that nigh people simply don't need the level of air filtration that high MPR ratings provide. Yous'll exist fine with a moderate-efficiency air filter unless you endure from chronic allergies or your immune arrangement is compromised.

What is the MPR rating scale?

The Microparticle Performance Rating (MPR) is an air filter rating calibration that is designed by the 3M company. The main purpose of the MPR system is to rate an air filter's power to filter out microparticles.

The MPR rating scale focuses on the smallest particles measured past the MERV calibration – E1 particles. E1 particles are particles that have a diameter between 0.three and one.0 microns. I'll talk more about E1 particles later.

The MPR system is different than the MERV scale in that information technology focuses on a filter'southward ability to filter out microparticles. For this reason, about MPR-rated filters capture more than microparticles than the equivalent MERV-rated filter.

Even the lowest-rated MPR 300 filters capture 12% of E1 microparticles. These particles are not even measured by the MERV rating scale until MERV 10.

Is a higher MPR rating better?

Merely considering higher MPR-rated filters capture more particles, doesn't mean that y'all should get for the highest MPR rating that you can notice. Using a filter with higher filtration efficiency will add together more airflow restriction to your HVAC organisation, mayhap prolonging runtimes and using more energy.

The all-time thing to exercise is to use a filter with a sufficient rating to filter out particulates, but not high enough to overstress your furnace or AC.

A proficient MPR rating to start at is MPR 600. Filters with an MPR 600 rating strike a good balance between filtration efficiency and airflow.

If you are susceptible to allergens such every bit fine dust or pollen, moving up to an MPR 1000 filter is the next pace in air filtration efficiency.

It has been shown that filters with higher efficiency ratings tend to block some airflow. In the by, this was definitely the example. Merely this assumption is not entirely true anymore. Modern pleated filters use big surface areas to maximize airflow through the filter.

When considering the airflow bear upon that a filter has on your HVAC organisation, in that location are many factors at play- such as the type of fan motor and the dimensions of the air filter. Check out our article on how MERV ratings affect airflow for more data.

Comparing of air filter MPR ratings

The MPR arrangement rates air filters on a calibration of 100 to 2800 based on their ability to filter out microparticles. The higher the MPR rating, the more particles a filter blocks. Filters with a low MPR rating are only able to filter out big particles such as lint and hair. College MPR ratings bring more air filtration, especially with small microscopic particles.

Starting at MPR 100, these filters represent the well-nigh basic pleated filters. MPR 100 to 300 filters are made for filtering out bones dust and grit mites. They are equivalent to virtually a MERV 5 rating.

Stepping upward to MPR 600, these filters provide a standard level of filtration. In improver to dust, MPR 600 filters are able to filter out mold spores and pollen. These filters are sufficient for about residential homes since they provide a decent level of filtration and won't impede very much airflow.

MPR yard filters step up into allergy-fighting territory. These filters are good for those that suffer from allergies since they provide a higher level of filtration confronting pet dander and smoke. These are a adept selection if you demand an increased level of protection from seasonal allergies or excessive grit.

MPR 1500 filters take everything a step further and are able to filter out some leaner and viruses. These filters are considered a MERV 12 just they are able to capture nineteen% more E1 particles than a standard MERV 12 filter.

MPR 2200 filters are amongst the strongest filters on the MPR rating calibration (only MPR 2800 is stronger). MPR 2200 filters are able to capture soot, exhaust particles, and everything else that lower-rated filters are able to. These filters are considered a MERV 13 only they are able to capture xix% more E1 particles than a standard MERV xiii filter.

Air filter particle sizes: E1 vs E2 vs E3 particles

Air filters are tested past measuring the number of particles that they block. The particles that are tested with air filters are classified by their size into 3 different categories:

E1 particles are particles that are 0.3 to i.0 microns in diameter. These are the smallest type of particles tested with air filters. E1 particles represent small microscopic particles such as fume, haze, bacteria, and some viruses.
E2 particles are i.0 to iii.0 microns in bore. Pet dander and E. coli fall into the E2 particle range. PM_2.5 particles begin in the E2 range since they are smaller than 2.5 micrometers.
E3 particles are iii.0 to x microns in diameter. Most household dust, pollen, and mold fall into this range. For comparing, the bore of a man hair is around 50 to 70 microns, at least 5 times larger than the diameter of the largest E3 particle.

Air filters with higher MPR ratings will block more particles than air filters with lower MPR ratings. For example, an MPR 1000 filter will cake 41% of E1, 77% of E2, and 88% of E3 particles.

For more information on MPR ratings and how they chronicle to air filtration efficiency, cheque out 3M's guide to MPR vs MERV filters.