Life is beautiful in Lakeland, FL, but residents often need advanced filtration to maintain good indoor air quality at home. This urban region has its share of pollution, such as from vehicular traffic that you will want to avoid breathing in.
You also have to address dust from construction sites and be prepared when it’s allergy season in Lakeland. This is especially true if elderly or ill people are living at home, or if anyone suffers from respiratory issues, such as asthma, or has a bad reaction to allergens in the air.
To that end, One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning offers a free consultation to help determine the best MERV filter for your home in Lakeland.
Let’s address the question that’s on most of our customers’ minds: What does MERV stand for?
MERV is short for “Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value.” The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) created the MERV scale to measure how effectively a filter captures the small particles that contaminate our air.
MERV filters with higher ratings indicate they are more effective in trapping pollution, dust and allergens, as their tinier holes capture particles ranging in size from 0.3 to 10 microns.
Understanding MERV Ratings
Please refer to this MERV rating chart if you have questions about how the filters deal with contaminants in the air in Lakeland.
| MERV Rating | Particles Filtered | Lakeland Specific Concerns | Challenges (Static Pressure) |
| 1-4 | Basic dust | Not recommended for Lakeland homes | Provides minimal filtration |
| 5-8 | Pollen, dust mites | Minimum for Lakeland properties | May not adequately filter finer particles |
| 9-12 | Pet dander, mold spores | Recommended for most Lakeland homes | Some HVAC systems may experience reduced airflow or strain. |
| 13-16 | Bacteria, smoke | Ideal for coastal/urban Lakeland properties | Higher MERV ratings may restrict airflow and damage HVAC systems if not compatible. |
However, before you install a higher MERV rating filter in your home, it’s wise to consult with One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning. We will determine if MERV filters on the higher end of the scale might make your HVAC system struggle to meet demand. This is because higher MERV rating filters, with their smaller holes, can restrict airflow.
Lakeland-Specific Considerations
Since Lakeland is an urban location, your family needs protection against the pollution from high amounts of vehicle emissions, whether from commuters, trucks or construction equipment. And construction sites themselves are major sources of contaminants, with machinery spreading dust around.
The closest beaches are about 60 miles away, so you shouldn’t need to be concerned about coastal salt air clogging your air filters or corroding HVAC equipment.
But you’ll surely want to install a MERV filter that can keep up with the hazardous particles that are common in this urban environment. The professionals at One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning will advise you on the most appropriate MERV rating for your home filtration after hearing about your health concerns (such as asthma or allergies).
Our indoor air quality experts will also address how much filtration you need during summer, winter, and hurricane season. Indeed, we offer free MERV compatibility assessments for Lakeland homes and encourage you to contact us for guidance!
While Lakeland is considered at fairly low risk of hurricanes, there is always a potential for a storm dropping excessive amounts of moisture in the region, which can encourage mold spores to proliferate. We’ll consult with you about which MERV filter rating to use in case you need to keep this mold from flowing into your dwelling.
If you suffer from allergies, we’ll recommend you use higher MERV filter ratings to keep pollen from bothering you and your family.
Technical Implementation Section
It’s important to remember that when considering MERV filters for use during Lakeland’s mild winters, a higher MERV rating restricts airflow more than lower MERV ratings. This can impact how your furnace functions, as it may struggle to push air through your HVAC ducts when winter comes.
What MERV Rating Can My Lakeland Furnace Handle?
To give you an informed answer, a professional technician from One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning will check out your HVAC equipment and review the manufacturer’s owner manual for details about the system specifications.
For now, before you contact us for a free MERV consultation, it’s safe to assume a MERV 13 filter will do well at trapping pollutants and other contaminants in the air, while still enabling the furnace to distribute heat to all parts of your home without struggling. Remember, higher MERV ratings make it harder to push out air.
Frequently Asked Questions About MERV Filter Ratings
Will a higher MERV rating make my energy bills go up in Lakeland?
You can count on your bills increasing somewhat. This is because MERV filters always reduce airflow to some extent, which makes a home’s HVAC equipment work harder to distribute cool or heated air.
How often should I change my MERV filter in Lakeland ‘s climate?
Generally speaking, before we visit your home or consult with you about your system and air filtration needs, you can assume it’s fine to change filters every month or two. If you do not feel the need to use much filtration, you can probably get by swapping out MERV filters every 60-90 days. We may advise Lakeland homeowners who seldom need air filtration to change their MERV filters every three to four months.
You’ll need to change filters more frequently if there are higher amounts of pollution, allergens, mold, or dust in your immediate area. If anyone in your home suffers from respiratory ailments, such as allergies or asthma, your doctor may recommend changing filters more often.
Can I use the same MERV rating year-round in Florida?
Yes, it’s safe to use the same MERV filter rating throughout the year. The only exceptions would be if you are addressing health concerns and need more filtration during allergy season or when there are more mold spores in the air after heavy storms. If there is a major construction project near your Lakeland home in the summer, our technicians suggest you use a higher MERV filter to trap all the extra dust in the air.
What MERV rating do I need for Florida allergies?
It’s best to select a MERV rating of 11-13 to boost indoor air quality for people suffering from seasonal allergies in Lakeland.
How do I know if my Lakeland home’s AC can handle a MERV 13 filter?
Check the manufacturer’s owner’s manual, if available. Otherwise, contact One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning today. We’ll assess your HVAC equipment to see if a MERV 13 filter will work well with the AC.
Should I use different MERV ratings during hurricane season?
While hurricanes are less of a concern in Lakeland, it’s prudent to be prepared with a MERV 11 filter in case excess moisture from storms encourages mold spores to increase.
Do I need a higher MERV rating if I live in downtown Lakeland?
Yes, it’s better to install a higher MERV filter to trap the pollution from vehicular traffic, as well as from ongoing construction work that kicks up plenty of unhealthy dust.
How do MERV ratings affect my Florida home’s humidity control?
The higher the MERV filter rating, the more it restricts airflow. Lakewood homeowners, in consultation with the experts at One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning, should install a filter that traps pollutants and other contaminants in the air, while still allowing their HVAC system to reduce humidity to a comfortable and safe level.
What’s the difference between MERV and HEPA filters for Florida homes?
All HEPA filters have a MERV rating of at least 17. HEPA filters are prized by people who want to keep small particles like viruses from making their indoor air less healthy.
Seasonal Considerations FAQs
We frequently get calls from customers asking for specific MERV filter advice according to the season. Here’s a Lakeland-specific seasonal guide:
- Hurricane Season (June-November)
Hurricanes are usually not a major concern in Lakeland, but during Florida’s hurricane season, the high amounts of moisture dropped during storms will encourage mold spores to grow more rapidly, which you’ll want to trap using a MERV 11 filter.
- Winter (December-February)
In winter, you need to balance airflow strength with filtration needs. Our experts generally recommend installing a MERV 8 filter to trap contaminants without making the furnace work harder to move heated air through your home.
- Spring Allergy Season (March-May)
For allergy season, we suggest using a MERV 11-13 filter. The higher the rating, the more effective a MERV filter is at capturing pollen and mold particles.
- Summer (June-August)
You will want to be on guard against dusty air during the summer in Lakeland, with a MERV 11 filter usually being sufficient to maintain good indoor air quality. We’ll be happy to consult with you about your home’s specific needs.
Here to Help You With MERV Filters for Your Lakeland, FL Home
At One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning, our technicians have years of experience helping Lakeland homeowners select the most appropriate MERV filters. We’ll address your concerns about filtering out pollen during allergy season and help you boost indoor air quality even when pollution increases outside, such as from heavy traffic, industrial activities, or construction work pouring dust into the air.
Our team is ready to respond during emergencies, such as if you suddenly need filter replacement services. And to keep your HVAC system in tip-top shape, we provide seasonal maintenance programs. This is recommended because our technicians will spot any emerging problems with your system, which are easier to fix when still small.
You can rely on our air quality assessment tools to help us find the perfect balance between which MERV filter rating to use for your desired level of indoor air quality while maintaining the worry-free operation of your heating and cooling equipment.