Glossary
MERV Rating — Glossary
The filter-efficiency scale for HVAC filters — higher MERV catches finer particles like dander.
MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) rates how fine a particle a filter captures, roughly 1 to 16 for residential filters. MERV 8 catches dust; MERV 11-13 catches pet dander, fine particles, and some allergens.
For pet homes, MERV 11-13 is the sweet spot — fine enough to pull dander from circulation without overworking most HVAC systems.