While air purifiers are not specifically designed to cool your room, because of the amount of airflow generated, they can have that effect. Since that is not their primary purpose, an air purifier shouldn’t be counted on to cool down rooms that really require either a room fan or air conditioner to more effectively accomplish this.
We have a large selection of high-quality air purifiers available. Continue reading…
Believe it or not, it’s time to start thinking about spring cleaning your home. Spring cleaning is important for everyone, particularly allergy sufferers. Enjoying a healthy home isn’t as hard as you may think. Just follow our top 10 spring cleaning tips and tricks for allergy sufferers in 2025.
Looking for a specific spring cleaning product? View our list of Best Spring Cleaning Products for 2025. View our top spring cleaning tips below:
Scope out your home: What areas need the most work? Where do you skip during routine cleaning? Those are the best places to start. Regardless of where you start, having a plan will keep you focused on the task at hand. Just go room by room.
Feeling overwhelmed? Our printable room-by-room Spring Cleaning Checklist can help. Continue reading…
Air quality is essential for maintaining your home throughout the year. Poor air quality can cause various health issues ranging from minor allergies to fatal diseases, so it is important to use and upkeep reliable furnace and air purifier filters.
Taking the first step to improving your air quality requires learning about filters and how to tell which are better for your situation or needs than others. Most filters use one or both MPR and MERV ratings. Understanding the difference between MPR and MERV measurement ratings is a great first step to finding the perfect filter for your needs!
The MERV, or Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, is an industry-standard rating system of a filter’s ability to capture various particles. It derives from a testing method formulated by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).
MERV ratings range from 1 to 20. As the MERV rating increases, so does the filter’s ability and efficiency to capture smaller microparticles. All MERV filters are ideal for capturing large and medium-sized particles like pollen and dust. Higher-rated MERV filters can also capture microparticles between 0.3 to 10 microns in size.
FPR, or Filter Performance Rate, is another rating system that compares MERV ratings through independent labs, testing a MERV filter’s efficiency in capturing airborne particles. This rating system was developed and is only used by Home Depot. The FPR rating system ranges from 4 to 10.
While MPR filters use a similar design as MERV filters, their measurements and testing methods are more specialized. The MPR, or Microparticle Performance Rating, is a system formulated by the company Filtrete 3M. It is a dedicated rating system for measuring a filter’s ability to capture microparticles. While the testing method for their rating system is unknown, Filtrete’s filter technology has made them a household name for designing quality filters.
MPR ratings range from 300 to 2800 and are better equipped to efficiently catch smaller microparticles as the rating increases. All MPR filters are dedicated to capturing microparticles ranging from 0.3 to 1 micron in size.
Data sourced from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Filtrete.
Both MPR and MERV rating systems use microns (μn) to measure the diameter of an airborne particle. The smaller the particle, the harder it is for filters to capture, making the three measurement ranges of microparticles tricky to catch.
E1 range measures 0.3 to 1 micron and is the Most Penetrating Particle Size (MPPS) and the most difficult size for filters to capture. The second and third most difficult ranges for filters to capture are E2, which measures 1 to 3 microns, and E3, which measures between 3 and 10 microns. For reference, the diameter of a human hair is 60 microns, which is about six times larger than the largest microparticle size range. This puts into perspective how microscopic a micron is since it is too small to be seen with the naked eye.
There are a couple of factors to consider when deciding which filters are the best. While it may seem obvious to assume that the highest-rated filter is the best in every situation, that is not always the case.
The best filter depends on an air cleaner’s size, age, power capacity, and air quality levels or environmental factors. Therefore, using a MERV 20 or MPR 2800 filter for your residential furnace system might not be the best decision. A higher-rated filter will have less airflow, requiring your air cleaning system to use more power and possibly straining older systems, causing damage over time.
Finding a middle ground between particle capture efficiency and airflow is where you will find the best filter. However, it will depend on your system and air quality preference. Some people with newer and heavy-duty HVAC systems may prioritize particle capture rate over energy efficiency due to environmental factors that lower air quality or environments like hospitals that need sterile air quality. Others may prioritize the opposite, favoring lower-rated but more energy-efficient filters for ecological or financial reasons, and choose to use supplemental air cleaners to maintain healthy air quality.
Selecting the correct filter size is just as important, if not more so, than choosing the ideal filter rating. While it is true that thicker filters can hold more particulate matter than thinner filters, selecting a filter with the correct size and thickness based on your air cleaner specifications protects both particle capture efficiency and energy efficiency. This is why it is essential to be like Goldilocks and find the filter that fits your system “just right.” With this in mind, when shopping for a new filter it’s important to start your search by filtering by the filter size compatible with your air cleaner.
For those who prioritize capture efficiency due to pet dander, allergies, pollution, or other air quality concerns and have a heavy-duty HVAC system, this 1-inch-thick Nordic Pure MERV 12 Filter would be a high-grade filter for furnaces compatible with this sized filter. However, due to its restricted airflow, this filter would not be the most energy-efficient solution. In this case, a 3M Filtrete 1200 MPR Filter would provide more balanced filtration that requires less energy while still capturing a significant amount of air pollution.
HEPA, or High-Efficiency Particulate Air filters (named by the U.S. Department of Energy), are some of the most effective and efficient air filters available. Their ratings are more specialized and efficient than MPR and MERV filters.
HEPA filters, which have a pleated mechanical air filter design similar to MERV and MPR filters, capture 99.97 percent of dust, pollen, mold, bacteria, other airborne particles, and microparticles as small as 0.3 microns. Although their rating system differs from that of MPR and MERV filters, HEPA filters are commonly known as the most efficient in capturing airborne particles. The higher-rated HEPA filters are often used in high-trafficked or clinical settings, such as hospitals.
MPR and MERV ratings determine a filter’s efficiency in capturing various-sized pollution and particle matter, which, if left alone, lowers air quality and potentially causes health issues. The higher the rating for MERV and MPR filters, the more particles are captured more efficiently. Air quality improves as the percentage of particulate matter decreases thanks to reliable and high-grade filters.
Most filters use either MPR or MERV ratings, but some Filtreat 3M filters utilize both rating systems to further clarify their effectiveness in filtering small and hard-to-catch particles of dangerous pollutants such as PM2.5 and PM10 before they affect the air quality and your health.
While MERV and MPR-rated filters are great, it is essential to check what filter ratings are compatible with your HVAC or air purification system before investing in high-grade MERV or MPR filters. Not all systems are compatible with higher-rated MERV or MPR filters, and it’s best to use the filter rating specified by your air cleaning system. If it is compatible, it will require more power to counter the restricted airflow caused by the filter and lower its energy efficiency.
Keeping up with a filter routine can be challenging, especially since filters are often out of sight and lack physical indicators for when they need to be replaced. For some, replacing the filter promptly and consistently might be more difficult than knowing what filter to use. Here are some helpful tips and tricks to know how often your filter needs to be changed and how to stay on top of your filter replacements.
The easiest way to stay on top of your filter replacement is to create a schedule based on the filter’s recommended life expectancy. This can be done by creating monthly reminders via your smartphone, smart assistants like Alexa or Google, or signing up for reminder programs like the Filrete 365 email reminder program.
Most filters include a life expectancy on their packaging; however, it is important to know that the life expectancy may be prone to changes depending on the environment and the intensity of work the filter does.
In the case of missing or unreadable packaging, the average life expectancy for most filters is the following:
If you own pets, live in a dry, dusty, smoggy, or allergy-prone environment, or lack consistent or manageable cleaning, filters may need to be replaced more frequently than recommended. In that case, the best way to know is to install a reliable air quality monitor to keep track of your air quality and replace filters when the quality lowers.
Talk with our experts at 1-800-934-9194 or email us at experts@sylvane.com with any questions or additional assistance finding the products that best fit your needs.
It can be hard to notice the signs of poor indoor air quality, especially when the warning signs become normalized and part of everyday life because people spend most of their time indoors. However, that makes it all the more important to correctly identify the signs of declining air quality and find a quick and reliable solution.
Sports fanatics nationwide will always debate whether their way of tailgating is the best. But there’s one thing that all tailgaters can agree on: it gets cold!
Tailgaters have sought many ways to stay warm throughout the day to combat the frigid conditions. Anything that helps keep us warm, from blankets to portable heaters, seems necessary.
Let’s take a look to see our customers’ favorite tailgating heaters.
Packing for away games can be challenging with unpredictable weather and limited trunk space for everything you need to make. The Ener-G+ Infrared Portable Under-Table Electric Heater is a compact, portable heating solution for cold afternoons and evenings before the big game.
The one drawback of this heater model is that it is powered by a standard electric plug, which can be difficult in certain scenarios (like a stadium parking lot without outlets). But if you’re the savvy tailgater we think you are, you’ll find a way to make it work because the benefits outweigh that one drawback.
Maybe you spend Saturdays and Sundays in your garage or workshop, listening to the game on the radio or watching it on TV–that doesn’t mean you can’t keep warm. The QMark Fahrenheat Portable Utility Heater goes where you need it and is built to withstand even the most challenging conditions.
This little heater might seem inconsequential, but its fan-forced heating elements can produce an incredible amount of heat (up to 5,120 BTUs) in small spaces.
The Dyna-Glo Thermoheat 40,000 BTU LP Tank Top Heater is an excellent balance between portability (vital when tailgating) and the power of propane gas heating.
This heater’s 360-degree radiant burner attaches directly to the top of a standard 20-pound LP gas tank and offers up to 11 hours of continuous heating on cold game days. Customers will also appreciate this model’s stainless steel construction, which will withstand the harshest outdoor environments.
If your ideal tailgate is more on the low-key side of things, with just a couple of friends hanging out, eating burgers, and waiting for the game to start, then the Endless Summer Oil Rubbed Bronze Outdoor Wood Burning Fire Pit is the one for you.
This wood-burning firepit has one of our favorite designs yet. It offers a 360-degree view of the flames and allows you to soak up as much heat as you have fuel for. The 35.8 x 26-inch bowl and domed top are also great for burning large logs.
Has your tailgate moved from just a few friends to include additional friends, family, and maybe even a few people you don’t know hanging out at your house? Well, any good host has to have a way to keep everyone warm, and the Endless Summer Duvall LP Outdoor Gas Fire Pit is that way. It can produce 50,000 BTUs of heat and keep you and all your guests comfortable all day.
On warmer days, when the weather doesn’t require a heating option, this fire pit transforms into a table using the tabletop insert stored on the inner door.
It doesn’t matter how important the game is; sometimes, you just need the power to keep everybody warm. Well, the Dyna-Glo Delux Radiant Heater has all the power you’ll need and more, offering 125,000 BTUs of radiant heat for spaces up to 2,900 square feet.
You can use this radiant heater in temperatures as low as -20 degrees F, making it the best heating option for outdoor gatherings in extreme temperatures. The stainless steel construction also means that the Delux will stay in tip-top shape, whatever environment you’re tailgating in.
A good portable heater can mean a significant difference on cold mornings or nights before/during the big game. But you need the right one for where you’re going and the size of your tailgating group (so nobody freezes before making it into the stadium).
Before picking, consider the pros and cons of gas versus electric heating, portability, and whether the heater you’re considering has the runtime you need for your tailgate.
If you still need help selecting a tailgating heater, call our product experts at 1-800-934-9194 for more product recommendations and support.
