The air filter is a major component of your HVAC system. It prevents airborne particles like dust and pollen from circulating through your home. Finding out what type of air filter is right for you will help improve your sense of comfort at home. For example, environmentally minded homeowners could favor an electrostatic air filter. Regular filters can’t be recycled and are generally replaced every few months. Instead, an electrostatic filter can be washed off and reused.
What Is an Electrostatic Air Filter?
An electrostatic air filter is distinct from media filters, which are nonreusable. Media filters are pleated and use an extremely dense network of small fibers to catch airborne particles. While this design is successful, ultimately the filter is clogged with contaminants. Instead, an electrostatic filter uses the attractive force of static electricity. Animal dander, mold spores and other contaminants are drawn into the filter and trapped. But because of the lack of fibers, electrostatic filters can be cleaned.
Washable air filters are ideal for people who want to cut down on waste. When kept in good shape, an electrostatic filter can last you a very long time. Meanwhile, your ordinary furnace air filter should be replaced every few months. When furnaces can live for up to 20 years, that’s a lot of filters to throw out.
Do Electrostatic Air Filters Have a MERV Rating?
The MERV rating system is a good way to determine how effective an air filter is at collecting contaminants. The higher the filter’s MERV rating, the more effectively it works. Ratings are as high as 20, but these are reserved for special filters for medical and industrial use. Instead, a good standard for residential air filters is between a 3 and a 6 MERV rating. These are typically more than sufficient for your home’s needs, but there are exceptions.
People with breathing complications or acute allergies may benefit from a more powerful residential filter like HEPA filters. A HEPA filter can eliminate up to 97% of airborne particles, keeping indoor air quality very high. These filters are often found in specialized air filtration systems. Additional filtration may also be worthwhile for the elderly and people with respiratory ailments.
Are Electrostatic Air Filters Better Than Disposable? A Comparison.
As you can see, there are benefits to using electrostatic air filters in your home. It just depends on evaluating your indoor air quality needs and making the ideal choice. Let’s compare the main features of an electrostatic filter:
Reusable and simple to clean: Compared to pleated media filters, washable air filters are recyclable and reusable. All you have to do is properly rinse them off. Give enough time for them to dry completely and they can be placed back in your HVAC system.
Long-lasting with consistent upkeep: To work at their maximum effectiveness, electrostatic filters should be cleaned every month. This is a short process that provides long-term benefits. Washable air filters are highly resilient and can survive the lifetime of your HVAC system when properly cared for.
Offers excellent layer of protection: While HEPA filters or dedicated air filtration systems can offer solid results, that doesn’t mean other filters are substandard. For your average home, an electrostatic filter is a superb option for removing airborne particles.
Improve Indoor Air Quality with Routine Maintenance and Cleaning
Keeping up with routine maintenance and thorough cleaning is a great way to maximize indoor air quality in Greensburg. It all depends on the distinct conditions of your home as well as your family’s specific needs. Local, experienced technicians may be able to help. They can suggest the perfect products you need to improve indoor air quality.