# Scientific studies on health outcomes from expensive home air filters? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 26, 2022, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-studies-on-health-outcomes-from-expensive-home-air-filters/972255 "2022-09-26T12:48:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![jjakucyk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3d9bf3/32.png) [@jjakucyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjakucyk)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2022, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-studies-on-health-outcomes-from-expensive-home-air-filters/972255/21 "2022-09-28T13:27:10Z")
The higher-MERV filters are thicker so they can fit in more/deeper pleats to compensate for the denser filter media. More surface area = less air resistance for the same media density. Granted, a 5" MERV 16 filter is still going be more restricted than a 1" blue mesh filter that you could watch TV through, but it’s not like you’re totally choking down your system, **assuming it was designed for that size filter in the first place.** If your return ducts are already inadequately sized and the filter box is similarly too small, then yes adding a high-MERV filter isn’t a good idea, but that’s not a given circumstance. Also, many relatively modern furnaces will ramp up their fan speed a bit under greater air resistance. I think this is just a property of the particular motor design, not any sort of “smart” control. So it will draw a bit more power in order to maintain the same amount of airflow, no problem. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-studies-on-health-outcomes-from-expensive-home-air-filters/972255.md?page=1)