Folks residing in Niceville, FL, enjoy coastal living on the Emerald Coast, but the good life here is affected by issues with indoor air quality.
For example, homeowners have to address the problem of mold particles proliferating in the presence of excessive moisture during hurricane season. And people in urban regions deal with pollution, such as from automotive traffic, while those in suburban areas contend with higher levels of pollen as well as particles flying in the air from landscaping activities.
To improve indoor air quality, Niceville homeowners install special MERV filters with their heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. You might be wondering what MERV stands for.
The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) created the MERV scale to measure the effectiveness of filters in terms of capturing pollution, pollen and other contaminants. Higher MERV ratings indicate better performance in trapping these unwanted airborne particles.
You don’t need to spend a lot of time researching what level of MERV filtration is suitable for your home and family’s health and comfort. We’re here to help! The experts at One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning will provide you with a free MERV compatibility assessment. Call us today for details and a consultation..
Understanding MERV Ratings
Our HVAC professionals created a Niceville, FL MERV rating chart to help you gain insight into the way different ratings work under various air quality conditions.
| MERV Rating | Particles Filtered | Niceville Specific Concerns | Challenges (Static Pressure) |
| 1-4 | Basic dust | Not recommended for Niceville homes | Provides minimal filtration |
| 5-8 | Pollen, dust mites | Minimum for Niceville properties | May not adequately filter finer particles |
| 9-12 | Pet dander, mold spores | Recommended for most Niceville homes | Some HVAC systems may experience reduced airflow or strain. |
| 13-16 | Bacteria, smoke | Ideal for coastal/urban Niceville properties | Higher MERV ratings may restrict airflow and damage HVAC systems if not compatible. |
The reference to “static pressure” at the top of the chart concerns measuring how much effort your HVAC system puts into pushing heated or cooled air through the ductwork.
After a technician from One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning performs your free MERV compatibility assessment, we’ll have a better idea of the most suitable MERV filter rating to use with your equipment.
For example, we can determine if MERV filters with a rating of 9-12 could cause problems that make your AC and furnace struggle to meet demand. Be aware that MERV 13-16 rated filters will further restrict airflow, so you should ask us to check if higher MERV ratings could damage your system.
Niceville-Specific Considerations
Niceville homeowners need to filter out contaminants from a range of sources. During hurricane season, the huge amounts of water that storms bring to the area will tend to encourage mold spores to grow abundantly, which you’ll want to keep from blowing into your domicile.
Salt air blowing from coastal regions can clog MERV filters, requiring more frequent changes. The salt air is also capable of corroding metal components in HVAC systems, highlighting the importance of regular maintenance. To that end, One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning provides seasonal maintenance programs to keep your system working at its best.
Homeowners in Niceville’s urban locations need MERV filtration to capture pollution from vehicular traffic, as well as significant amounts of dust that’s sent into the air during all the ongoing construction projects. In suburban areas of Niceville, you may need a MERV filter to collect higher levels of landscaping particles flowing through your neighborhood, and to capture pollen and other contaminants that increase during allergy season.
Technical Implementation
It’s a good idea to become familiar with MERV ratings and airflow. As a reminder, the higher the MERV rating, the more the filter will restrict airflow in your Niceville home.
We often get calls from homeowners wondering, what MERV rating can my furnace handle? It’s true that a higher MERV filter rating used during winter can hinder furnace operations because of the reduced airflow, so we recommend a lower MERV filter rating during the coldest season of the year.
Frequently Asked Questions About MERV Ratings
Will a higher MERV rating make my energy bills go up in Niceville?
It’s safe to assume that yes, your utility bills will rise when you install a MERV filter with a higher rating, because the restricted airflow will cause the AC and furnace to work harder. Extra HVAC work translates to higher energy usage.
How often should I change my MERV filter in Niceville ‘s climate?
Generally speaking, many families swap out their MERV filters in Niceville once every month or two months. But to determine an ideal schedule for replacement, contact One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning for a free consultation. We’ll examine your HVAC system and ask about your family’s goals for improving indoor air quality.
Residents with less of a need for filtration can change filters every 60 to 90 days. With sporadic use, we may suggest you swap the filter every 90-120 days.
Can I use the same MERV rating year-round in Florida?
It’s okay if you want to stick to using the same MERV filter 365 days a year. But when you have family members dealing with allergies, asthma or other respiratory problems, you’ll want to boost indoor air quality with filters that correspond to what season it is. For example, you’ll use a higher rated MERV filter to trap particles during allergy season or hurricane season.
And the environment around your home may change according to seasons too. There might be more construction work downtown, or your suburban neighbors may be doing a lot of landscaping work, all of which cause more contaminants to fly into the air, and into your home.
What MERV rating do I need for Florida allergies?
Use a MERV 11-13 filter to help you avoid reacting to high levels of allergens in the air.
How do I know if my Niceville home’s AC can handle a MERV 13 filter?
Check what the HVAC manufacturer’s owner’s manual has to say about MERV filters used with the equipment.
But don’t worry if you cannot find the manual or are not sure how to read the specifications. A technician from One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning will assess your system and your family’s needs for filtration to advise you on whether using a MERV 13 filter will be appropriate.
Should I use different MERV ratings during hurricane season?
To trap the anticipated growth of mold spores in the aftermath of a wet and wild storm, we recommend you install a MERV 11 filter when it’s hurricane season.
What’s the best MERV rating for homes near Niceville’s
beaches?
You’ll want to install a MERV filter with a rating of 13-16 to capture the salty air’s particles and other contaminants from the coastal area.
Do I need a higher MERV rating if I live in downtown Niceville?
In most cases, the answer is “Yes.” Consider all of the extra pollution released from the tailpipes of commuter vehicles and delivery trucks downtown! And as construction projects continue in the heart of the city, their activity results in more dust and other small particles flowing into the air, all needing to be captured by a higher-rated MERV filter.
How do MERV ratings affect my Florida home’s humidity
control?
Since your home’s AC system cools down the air to help control humidity, be aware that the higher the MERV filter rating, the more it tends to restrict airflow. With reduced airflow, your AC may struggle to provide sufficient cooling to adequately control humidity indoors.
We will check your system and determine a good compromise between MERV filter ratings and your need to reduce humidity.
What’s the difference between MERV and HEPA filters for Florida homes?
All HEPA filters have a MERV rating of at least 17. People install HEPA filters at home to guard against viruses and other problematic small airborne particles.
Seasonal MERV Filter Questions
To address homeowners’ questions about MERV filter seasonal considerations, we present this Niceville Seasonal Guide.
- Hurricane Season (June-November)
When weather officials forecast hurricanes for Niceville, install a MERV 11 filter to capture dirt and dust as well as the mold spores that tend to grow after storms dump water into the area.
- Winter (December-February)
During winter, when you want to run your furnace the most, it’s prudent to install a MERV 8 filter. This balances filtration needs without restricting airflow to the point that your furnace struggles to deliver the heat your family needs.
- Spring Allergy Season (March-May)
Allergy season affects each person differently, especially those who have asthma or react badly to allergens in the air. Use a MERV 11-13 filter for best results, perhaps in consultation with your doctor. Higher-rated MERV filters do a better job at trapping allergens in the air.
- Summer (June-August)
You can assume more dust will fly in the air during summer in Niceville, indicating a need to install a MERV 11 filter to trap these airborne contaminants.
Get Your Free MERV Filter Consultation From One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning Today!
We know it can be confusing to sort out all of your MERV filter options, from knowing what levels of pollution are prevalent in your community to needing to protect members of your family who have allergies or other health conditions that react poorly to bad indoor air quality.
At One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning, we know the needs of Niceville homeowners who require reliable air filtration. We’ll be happy to advise you during a free consultation.
We’re also available to provide emergency filter replacement services to take care of a clogged MERV filter or to install one with a higher rating if the current one is insufficient to meet your air quality goals. And remember to take advantage of our seasonal maintenance programs, which help reduce the total cost of owning an HVAC system with MERV filters.
To learn more, connect with the experts at One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning today!