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 kind of air filter is right for you will help improve your sense of comfort at home. For example, environmentally inclined homeowners could opt for an electrostatic air filter. Typical 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 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, 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 drawn into the filter and trapped. But because of the lack of fibers, electrostatic filters can be washed.
Washable air filters are suitable for people who hope to minimize waste. When kept in good shape, an electrostatic filter can last you a very long time. Meanwhile, your common furnace air filter should be exchanged every few months. When furnaces can last 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 determine how effective an air filter is at collecting 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 standard for residential air filters is between a 3 and a 6 MERV rating. These are typically more than enough for your home’s needs, but there are exceptions.
People with breathing problems or serious allergies can benefit from a more powerful 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 can 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 advantages 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 review 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 have to do is properly rinse them off. Leave enough time for them to dry completely and they can be added back in your HVAC system.
Long-lasting with regular upkeep: To work at their maximum effectiveness, electrostatic filters should be cleaned every month. This is a quick process that offers long-term benefits. Washable air filters are highly resilient and can survive the lifetime of your HVAC system when properly cared for.
Offers excellent layer of protection: While HEPA filters or dedicated air filtration systems might offer strong results, that doesn’t mean other filters are inferior. For your typical home, an electrostatic filter is a great solution for removing 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 Menomonie and western Wisconsin. 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.