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 kind of air filter is right for you will help enhance your sense of comfort at home. For example, environmentally minded homeowners could prefer an electrostatic air filter. Regular filters can’t be recycled and are normally replaced every couple of 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 dense network of small fibers to catch airborne particles. While this design is effective, sooner or later 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 rinsed.
Washable air filters are recommended for people who want to reduce 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 away.
Do Electrostatic Air Filters Have a MERV Rating?
The MERV rating system is an easy way to tell how effective an air filter is at trapping 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 generally more than adequate for your home’s needs, but there are exceptions.
People with breathing complications or acute 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 regularly found in specialized air filtration systems. Additional filtration could also be helpful for the elderly and people with respiratory ailments.
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 evaluating your indoor air quality needs and making the ideal choice. Let’s review the key advantages of an electrostatic filter:
Reusable and simple to clean: Compared to pleated media filters, washable air filters are recyclable and reusable. All you need to do is thoroughly rinse them off. Leave enough time for them to dry completely and they can be put 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 offers long-term benefits. Washable air filters are highly durable 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 average home, an electrostatic filter is a great 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 improve indoor air quality in Naples. 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 ideal products you need to improve indoor air quality.