Whole-home filtration · Honeywell Home
Whole-home air filters, MERV 11 and MERV 13
A thin 1-inch filter protects your furnace, not your lungs. A whole-home air cleaner mounts in your ductwork and captures the fine dust, smoke, pollen and dander that a standard filter lets through.
What MERV means
MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) is the industry rating for air filters, set by the ASHRAE 52.2 test standard. The higher the number, the more of the smallest particles a filter has to catch.
Most homes run a 1-inch filter rated MERV 1 to 4, which stops lint and large dust but very little of what you breathe. Moving to MERV 11 or MERV 13 in a deep pleated cabinet makes a large difference without straining your system.
Minimum capture required by ASHRAE 52.2
| Rating | 0.3–1 micron | 1–3 micron | 3–10 micron |
|---|---|---|---|
| MERV 8 | n/a | 20%+ | 70%+ |
| MERV 11 | 20%+ | 65%+ | 85%+ |
| MERV 13 | 50%+ | 85%+ | 90%+ |
Source: NAFA summary of ASHRAE Standard 52.2.
Particle sizes
How small is what you breathe?
Anything 10 microns or smaller can be breathed deep into your lungs, and most of it is too small to see. The shaded bands are the three size ranges a MERV rating is tested on.
- Viruses (coronavirus)0.1–0.5 µm
- Wildfire smoke0.4–0.7 µm
- Bacteria1–3 µm
- Fine dust (PM2.5)2.5 µm and under
- Respiratory droplets5–10 µm
- Coarse dust (PM10)under 10 µm
- Pollenabout 15 µm
- Human hair, for scale50–180 µm
Microns (µm), shown on a log scale. Teal rows are the particles where a MERV 13 filter or the F300 outperforms MERV 11 most. Viruses travel mostly inside larger respiratory droplets.
Products · Honeywell Home by Resideo
Ways to upgrade your filtration
F100 media air cleaner
A deep pleated MERV 11 filter in a cabinet that mounts in your return duct. A solid step up from a 1-inch filter at a lower cost.
Replacement filter: MERV 11 media
F200 media air cleaner
Ships with a MERV 13 filter that captures about two thirds of the smallest particles. The cabinet also accepts a MERV 11 filter if your system needs less resistance.
16×20, 16×25, 20×20 (1,400 CFM), 20×25 (2,000 CFM)
F300 electronic air cleaner
Charges particles and collects them on a washable cell, with very little airflow restriction. Honeywell rates it equivalent to MERV 12 to 16 and says it captures up to 98% of airborne particles.
No filters to buy · wash the cell every 6–12 months
Filter plus REME HALO
A filter only cleans the air that passes through it. Pair it with REME HALO purification to treat odors, microbes and VOCs throughout the house.
Recent install
Honeywell media air cleaner on an attic air handler
The cabinet mounts right at the return, so all the air your system moves passes through the deep pleated filter before it reaches the blower. New sheet-metal transitions are sealed with foil tape to keep unfiltered attic air out.
Filter changes are easy: the filter slides out of the side door, with no tools needed.
Testing · as published by Honeywell Home
How much each option captures
Percent of particles captured, by size, from independent lab testing reported by Resideo, the maker of Honeywell Home air cleaners.
Smallest particles · 0.3–1 micron
Smoke, bacteria, fine dust
Mid-size · 1–3 micron
Mold spores, pet dander, fine dust
Large · 3–10 micron
Pollen, dust, lint
Reading the chart
The smallest particles matter most for health because they reach deepest into the lungs, and that is where the options differ the most. MERV ratings for electronic air cleaners are equivalents based on initial efficiency; electronic cleaners do not qualify for a true MERV rating.
Source: Honeywell Home F300 brochure, Resideo 50-9698.
Questions
Air filter questions
MERV 11 or MERV 13: which should I choose?
MERV 13 catches far more of the smallest particles, such as smoke and fine dust, so it is the better choice for allergies, asthma or wood stove smoke. MERV 11 is a good step up from a 1-inch filter for systems with less blower capacity. We check your system before recommending one.
Will a high-MERV filter hurt my furnace or heat pump?
A thin 1-inch MERV 13 filter can choke airflow. The Honeywell cabinets use a deep pleated filter with much more surface area, which keeps resistance low. We check your blower and ductwork before installing.
How often do the filters need changing?
Media filters are replaced, not washed. The F300 electronic air cleaner has no filter to replace; its cell is washed every 6 to 12 months. We can track either one and handle it during your regular service visit.
Can I pair a filter with REME HALO?
Yes, and they work well together. The filter captures particles as air passes through it, while REME HALO treats odors, microbes and VOCs throughout the house.
Upgrade your filtration
We will check your system and recommend the filter or air cleaner that fits.