The air filter is a vital component of your HVAC system. It stops airborne particles like dust and pollen from circulating through your home. Finding out what sort 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 usually replaced every few months. Instead, an electrostatic filter can be rinsed 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 thick network of small fibers to trap airborne particles. While this design is efficient, 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 absence of fibers, electrostatic filters can be cleaned.
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 common 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 a great way to recognize 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 specialized 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 sufficient for your home’s needs, but there are exceptions.
People with breathing problems or acute allergies might 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. Added 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 evaluating your indoor air quality needs and making the most suitable choice. Let’s go over the key benefits of an electrostatic filter:
Reusable and easy to clean: Compared to pleated media filters, washable air filters are recyclable and reusable. All you have to do is thoroughly rinse them off. Leave 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 washed every month. This is a quick 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 typical home, an electrostatic filter is a great option 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 improve indoor air quality in Newark. 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 recommend the ideal products you need to boost indoor air quality.