The air filter is a vital component of your HVAC system. It keeps airborne particles like dust and pollen from circulating through your home. Figuring out what sort of air filter is right for you will help improve your sense of comfort at home. For example, environmentally minded homeowners may favor an electrostatic air filter. Typical filters can’t be recycled and are generally 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 use an extremely dense network of small fibers to trap airborne particles. While this design is efficient, sooner or later 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 recommended for people who hope to minimize waste. When kept in good shape, an electrostatic filter can last you a very long time. Meanwhile, your traditional furnace air filter should be replaced every few months. When furnaces can last 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 great way to recognize how efficient an air filter is at eliminating 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 average for residential air filters is between a 3 and a 6 MERV rating. These are typically more than adequate for your home’s needs, but there are exceptions.
People with breathing complications or severe allergies can 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 commonly found in dedicated air filtration systems. Added filtration could also be helpful for the elderly and people with respiratory conditions.
Are Electrostatic Air Filters Better Than Disposable? A Comparison.
As you can see, there are perks to using electrostatic air filters in your home. It just depends on analyzing your indoor air quality needs and making the ideal choice. Let’s compare the main features of an electrostatic filter:
Reusable and easy to clean: Compared to pleated media filters, washable air filters are recyclable and reusable. All you need to do is thoroughly rinse them off. Give enough time for them to dry completely and they can be placed back in your HVAC system.
Long-lasting with steady upkeep: To work at their maximum effectiveness, electrostatic filters should be washed every month. This is a short process that provides long-term benefits. Washable air filters are highly resilient 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 can offer strong results, that doesn’t mean other filters are inadequate. For your standard home, an electrostatic filter is a superb option for getting rid of 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 Bend. It all depends on the distinct conditions of your home as well as your family’s specific needs. Local, experienced technicians can help. They can suggest the ideal products you need to boost indoor air quality.