The air filter is a key component of your HVAC system. It keeps airborne particles like dust and pollen from circulating through your home. Figuring out what kind of air filter is right for you will help improve your sense of comfort at home. For example, environmentally inclined homeowners may opt for an electrostatic air filter. Regular 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 distinct from media filters, which are nonreusable. Media filters are pleated and use an extremely thick network of small fibers to catch airborne particles. While this design is efficient, eventually 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 drawn into the filter and trapped. But because of the absence of fibers, electrostatic filters can be rinsed.
Washable air filters are ideal for people who hope to minimize 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 away.
Do Electrostatic Air Filters Have a MERV Rating?
The MERV rating system is an easy way to determine how efficient 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 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 usually more than adequate for your home’s needs, but there are exceptions.
People with breathing complications or severe allergies can benefit from a stronger 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 dedicated 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 advantages to using electrostatic air filters in your home. It just depends on evaluating your indoor air quality needs and making the most suitable choice. Let’s compare the principal benefits of an electrostatic filter:
Reusable and easy to clean: Unlike 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 inserted back in your HVAC system.
Long-lasting with consistent upkeep: To work at their peak effectiveness, electrostatic filters should be cleaned each month. This is a brief process that offers long-term benefits. Washable air filters are highly resilient and can last the lifetime of your HVAC system when well cared for.
Offers quality layer of protection: While HEPA filters or dedicated air filtration systems might offer strong results, that doesn’t mean other filters are inadequate. For your standard home, an electrostatic filter is a superb solution 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 optimize indoor air quality in Chadron. It all depends on the unique conditions of your home as well as your family’s specific needs. Local, experienced technicians may be able to help. They can recommend the perfect products you need to boost indoor air quality.