The air filter is a major component of your HVAC system. It prevents airborne particles like dust and pollen from circulating through your home. Finding out what sort of air filter is right for you will help enhance your sense of comfort at home. For example, environmentally minded homeowners may favor an electrostatic air filter. Standard filters can’t be recycled and are normally replaced every couple of 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 employ an extremely thick network of small fibers to trap airborne particles. While this design is successful, 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 sucked into the filter and trapped. But because of the absence of fibers, electrostatic filters can be cleaned.
Washable air filters are suitable for people who want to minimize waste. When kept in good shape, an electrostatic filter can last you a very long time. Meanwhile, your standard furnace air filter should be exchanged 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 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 special 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 generally more than enough 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 commonly found in dedicated air filtration systems. Additional filtration could 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 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 compare the main benefits of an electrostatic filter:
Reusable and simple to clean: Unlike pleated media filters, washable air filters are recyclable and reusable. All you have to do is thoroughly rinse them off. Give enough time for them to dry completely and they can be put back in your HVAC system.
Long-lasting with consistent upkeep: To work at their peak effectiveness, electrostatic filters should be washed each 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 inadequate. For your standard home, an electrostatic filter is a superb choice 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 good way to maximize indoor air quality in Mount Pleasant. 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 improve indoor air quality.