The air filter is a major component of your HVAC system. It prevents airborne particles like dust and pollen from circulating through your home. Figuring out what sort 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. Standard filters can’t be recycled and are usually replaced every couple of months. Instead, an electrostatic filter can be washed 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 trap airborne particles. While this design is successful, 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 drawn 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 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 replaced 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 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 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 usually more than enough for your home’s needs, but there are exceptions.
People with breathing complications or serious 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 dedicated air filtration systems. Additional filtration can 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 advantages to using electrostatic air filters in your home. It just depends on analyzing your indoor air quality needs and making the most suitable choice. Let’s go over 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 need to do is properly rinse them off. Leave enough time for them to dry completely and they can be placed back in your HVAC system.
Long-lasting with consistent upkeep: To work at their maximum effectiveness, electrostatic filters should be washed every month. This is a brief process that provides long-term benefits. Washable air filters are highly resilient and can last the lifetime of your HVAC system when properly cared for.
Offers quality layer of protection: While HEPA filters or dedicated air filtration systems can offer solid results, that doesn’t mean other filters are insufficient. For your standard home, an electrostatic filter is a superb option for eliminating airborne particles.
Improve Indoor Air Quality with Routine Maintenance and Cleaning
Keeping up with routine maintenance and thorough cleaning is a good way to improve indoor air quality in Rapid City. It all depends on the distinct conditions of your home as well as your family’s specific needs. Local, experienced technicians can help. They can suggest the ideal products you need to boost indoor air quality.