Looking to upgrade your air filters? You can breathe easy with help from Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing, your resident HVAC specialist in the U.S.. While there are several types of air filters to choose from, installing electrostatic air filters is a simple way to improve indoor air quality.
Like other air filters, the purpose of an electrostatic air filter is to clean the air entering your home, lowering the amount of allergens and pollutants that circulate within your home while also protecting your HVAC system from harmful debris. Unlike other air filters, however, electrostatic air filters use electromagnetism to pull particulates from the air.
Think of electrostatic air filters like magnets. At each end of a magnet, there are two opposite poles. If you’ve ever tried to push two like poles together, you’d notice that they repel each other. Likewise, when two opposing poles become close, they attract one another.
Electrostatic air filters work like dust magnets, using static electricity to attract dirty air and ensure it sticks to the filter. Coarse fibers of the filter are electrostatically charged and collect particles over time. As more particles build up, the filter’s effectiveness diminishes, but a thorough cleaning can resolve that issue. When washed and maintained regularly, these filters can last indefinitely.
Filter effectiveness is based on the minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) rating developed by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). This rating is determined by the size of particulates a filter can capture. MERV ratings can range from 1-20, with lower ratings being less efficient than higher ratings. Additionally, it’s important to note that as the rating increases, the harder an HVAC system has to work to push air through the filter. Most residential air filters are rated somewhere around 1-12, with filters rated 13 or higher considered hospital-grade since they might require a specialized HVAC system.
The most common air filters are made from pleated media housed in disposable cardboard frames. These filters are considered mechanical because they physically prevent pollutants from entering your home, unlike electrostatic air filters which rely mainly on static electricity to trap particles. Typically, these filters have MERV ratings between 1 and 4, meaning they can manage large debris simply enough but struggle at filtering smaller allergens and pollutants. Unfortunately, these air filters must be replaced every 30-60 days and the cost of replacement filters can add up quickly.
By comparison, electrostatic filters typically have MERV ratings of between 8-10 and are more effective at removing particles from the air than regular disposable air filters. These filters do a great job of safeguarding your HVAC system from large debris and can enhance indoor air quality. Unlike disposable air filters, permanent electrostatic air filters are reusable after washing—saving you money in the long run.
High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters have a MERV rating of between 17 to 20 and can remove up to 99.97% of airborne contaminants. HEPA filters are highly efficient at improving indoor air quality and can even filter out harmful pathogens. Frequently placed in hospitals, HEPA filters are less likely to be installed in residential settings because of their cost, but can dramatically improve your quality of life if you suffer from allergies or have respiratory problems.
While less effective than HEPA filters, electrostatic filters still do a noteworthy job of filtering the air and protecting you from harmful contaminants. Because they’re reusable, the cost savings earned from installing permanent electrostatic air filters can be useful, especially if you’re not sensitive to the airborne particles that HEPA filters block.
Need help deciding if electrostatic air filters are the optimal choice for your home? Get in touch with your neighborhood HVAC experts at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing, and we’ll help you make the right decision.
Contact us to schedule your indoor air quality consultation in the U.S. today!
You have likely heard that having a programmable thermostat can reduce your heating and cooling costs. While this is indeed true, you don’t immediately save just by replacing your old manual thermostat for a programmable one. To maximize your savings, you ought to select, set up and use a... Continue reading
Smart thermostats are increasing in popularity as more and more homeowners seek out ways to lower their energy costs. These systems can be programmed to efficiently regulate the temperature of your home in line with your daily schedule. They also have the capacity to memorize any preferences over... Continue reading
If you’re looking for a way to save money and energy in your home, it may be a wise investment to explore getting a smart thermostat. These gadgets can do everything from monitor when you leave the house, so that it doesn’t throw away electricity heating or cooling an empty home, to... Continue reading
© 2023 Service Experts, Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning, and the Service Experts logo and design are registered trademarks of Service Experts LLC and used under license by SE Canada Inc. All Rights Reserved. *Not applicable to the Advantage Program. See your signed Advantage Program Agreement for full details and exclusions. 100% Satisfaction Guarantee is subject to certain restrictions and limitations as set forth in the applicable Terms and Conditions.
