MERV 16 vs HEPA: The Filter Choice That Could Hurt Your HVAC

Infographic illustrating 'MERV 16 vs HEPA: The Filter Choice That Could Hurt Your HVAC.' A 3D cutaway diagram of an air handler shows thick filters restricting incoming airflow, causing the internal blower motor to glow red to indicate high strain, increased pressure, and potential system damage.

On a service call in Clermont last fall, our technician measured static pressure in a home where the owner had installed MERV 16 filters three months earlier. The reading came back nearly double the system’s rated tolerance. The filter was capturing particles as advertised. The blower motor was failing because of it. MERV 16 is … Read more