The air filter is a vital component of your HVAC system. It keeps 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 inclined homeowners might prefer an electrostatic air filter. Regular filters can’t be recycled and are normally replaced every few months. Instead, an electrostatic filter can be rinsed off and used again.
What Is an Electrostatic Air Filter?
An electrostatic air filter is different from media filters, which are nonreusable. Media filters are pleated and employ an extremely dense network of small fibers to capture airborne particles. While this design is effective, 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 sucked into the filter and trapped. But because of the absence of fibers, electrostatic filters can be cleaned.
Washable air filters are ideal for people who want to minimize waste. When kept in good shape, an electrostatic filter can last you a very long time. Meanwhile, your standard furnace air filter should be exchanged every few months. When furnaces can live for up to 20 years, that’s a lot of filters to throw away.
Do Electrostatic Air Filters Have a MERV Rating?
The MERV rating system is a good way to tell how efficient 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 generally more than enough for your home’s needs, but there are exceptions.
People with breathing complications or severe allergies may benefit from a more powerful residential filter like HEPA filters. A HEPA filter can remove up to 97% of airborne particles, keeping indoor air quality very high. These filters are often found in dedicated air filtration systems. Additional filtration can also be beneficial 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 examining your indoor air quality needs and making the ideal choice. Let’s compare the principal features of an electrostatic filter:
Reusable and easy to clean: Unlike pleated media filters, washable air filters are recyclable and reusable. All you need to do is thoroughly rinse them off. Wait enough time for them to dry completely and they can be put back in your HVAC system.
Long-lasting with consistent upkeep: To work at their peak effectiveness, electrostatic filters should be washed each month. This is a quick process that provides long-term benefits. Washable air filters are highly durable and can last the lifetime of your HVAC system when properly cared for.
Offers quality layer of protection: While HEPA filters or dedicated air filtration systems might offer solid results, that doesn’t mean other filters are substandard. For your typical home, an electrostatic filter is a superb choice for eliminating 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 Tucker. It all depends on the specific conditions of your home as well as your family’s specific needs. Local, experienced technicians can help. They can suggest the perfect products you need to improve indoor air quality.