The air filter is a vital component of your HVAC system. It stops 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 inclined homeowners might favor an electrostatic air filter. Regular filters can’t be recycled and are usually 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 different from media filters, which are nonreusable. Media filters are pleated and use an extremely thick network of small fibers to trap airborne particles. While this design is effective, ultimately the filter is clogged with contaminants. Instead, an electrostatic filter uses the magnetic force of static electricity. Animal dander, mold spores and other contaminants are sucked into the filter and trapped. But because of the lack of fibers, electrostatic filters can be rinsed.
Washable air filters are ideal for people who like to cut down on 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 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 tell how effective an air filter is at catching contaminants. The higher the filter’s MERV rating, the more effectively it works. Ratings are as high as 20, but these are reserved for advanced 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 usually more than adequate for your home’s needs, but there are exceptions.
People with breathing problems or severe allergies can benefit from a stronger 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 regularly found in specialized air filtration systems. Added filtration can also be worthwhile 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 examining your indoor air quality needs and making the ideal choice. Let’s compare the main advantages 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 properly rinse them off. Give enough time for them to dry completely and they can be inserted 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 brief process that provides long-term benefits. Washable air filters are highly resilient and can survive the lifetime of your HVAC system when well 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 inferior. For your typical home, an electrostatic filter is a superb option for eliminating airborne particles.
Improve Indoor Air Quality with Routine Maintenance and Cleaning
Keeping up with routine maintenance and thorough cleaning is a good way to improve indoor air quality in Crystal and Twin Cities. It all depends on the unique 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.