Do you feel that the air inside your home is clean and fresh? Maybe Yes. But do you know that indoor air can be 2-5 times more polluted than outside air?
But How does the indoor air gets polluted?
You are dealing with varieties of contaminants inside your house. Dust, smoke from kitchen chores, pollen grains, air fresheners, and if you are an animal lover, pet dander too.
These particles are unhealthy for you. The real problem arises when you have a member in your family who has an underlying health condition.
But, how to get the fresh air?
One option is to use air filters. Air filters help to remove deadly contaminants from the air.
Now the problem is that there are different types of air filters available in the market. Out of those, which one is the best? The answer is Electrostatic Air Filter.
So this article will focus on Electrostatic Air Filter that can remove most airborne deadly particles. We will also learn how Electrostatic Air Filter works along with its advantages and disadvantages.
What Is An Electrostatic Air Filter?
An electrostatic air filter uses static electricity to catch dust, pollen, and other airborne particles before entering your room.
Electrostatic air filters are also called reusable air filters or washable air filters, as you can wash the filter and reuse it.
How Does Electrostatic Air Filter Work?
Well, the process looks complicated, but in actuality, it is not. We know that the positive pole and the negative pole of a magnet attract each other. The same rule applies here too which is called ” Electrostatic Attraction.”
Credit: Link
When the polluted air is entering the filter, the pre-filter is creating electricity. Then the air passes through the ionizer. Ionizer emits charged gas, which attracts dust particles and adds additional charge.
The additionally charged dust particle is then attracted by the collectors and, in turn, traps those. The optional charcoal filter then removes the remaining dust particle and gives us clean air.
Different Types Of Electrostatic Air Filters
Electrostatic air filters are categorized based on the MERV Rating standard (Minimum efficiency reporting value) and Arrestance capacity.
Arrestance is the measure of the ability to pull stubborn stains out of the air. The more Arrestance, the better air filtration.
The standard range of Arrestance capacity is 82%. However, for heavy-duty air conditioners, the value goes as high as 94%
| MERV | Min. particle size | Typical Controlled Contaminant | Typical Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 | > 10.0 μm | Pollen, dust mites, cockroach debris, sanding dust, spray paint dust, textile fibers, carpet fibers | Residential window AC units |
| 5–8 | 10.0–3.0 μm | Mold spores, dust mite debris, cat and dog dander, hair spray, fabric protector, dusting aids, pudding mix | Better residential, general commercial, and industrial workspaces |
| 9–12 | 3.0–1.0 μm | Legionella, humidifier dust, lead dust, milled flour, auto-emission particulates, nebulizer droplets | Superior residential, better commercial, and hospital laboratories |
| 13–16 | 1.0–0.3 μm | Bacteria, droplet nuclei (sneeze), cooking oil, most smoke and insecticide dust, most face powder, most paint pigments | Hospital & general surgery |
Advantages Of Electrostatic Air Filters
- The cleaning process is easy and quick
- Can remove particles having a size smaller than 10 microns like dust, pollen, bacteria, spores, etc.
- Can be washed and reused for years without replacement
- The loading pattern improves the airflow and maximum filtration
Disadvantages Of Electrostatic Air Filters
- You have to clean it regularly.
- Can not remove harmful gases like volatile organic compounds, odors, etc.
- Along with the electric field, it produces ozone, which is very harmful to health, especially to asthma patients.
How To Clean Electrostatic Air Filters?
Regular Cleaning is necessary for any machine to work efficiently, and the same applies to electrostatic air filters because the dust can shackle the airflow.
For best performance, it is advisable to clean the filter every 4-5 weeks.
- Remove the air filter from the AC and apply a gentle stream of water from the opposite side of the filter. The higher the pressure, the better cleaning of filters.
- Rinse the filter thoroughly from the opposite side.
- Use specified cleaners to remove heavy, tight stains.
- Rinse thoroughly if it has some dirt remaining.
- Drain the excess water with left remains in the system and leave the screen for a couple of minutes to get dry for reinstallation
Difference Between HEPA Air Filters & Electrostatic Air Filters
Both the HEPA Air filters and Electrostatic Air filters are good at cleaning the air. HEPA filters are nothing but just a mat of fibers, aligned randomly.
These fibers are made from either glass or synthetic materials, whereas the electrostatic air filters are made up of coarse fibers, which work on the principle of electromagnetism.
HEPA filters can also remove viruses, bacteria, mold, pollen grains, and many other contaminants.
| Attributes | HEPA | Electrostatic Filter |
|---|---|---|
| Remove Gases | No | No |
| Remove odors | No | No |
| Effectiveness against bacteria | Excellent | Moderate |
| Effectiveness against Virus | Good | Moderate |
| Clean pet dander | Excellent | Excellent |
| Clean pollens | Excellent | Excellent |
| Clean dust | Excellent | Excellent |
| Cost | Moderate | Moderate |
| Life expectancy | 2-3 years | 5-7 years |
Usage of Electrostatic Air Filters In Air Conditioners
Many high-end air conditioners nowadays come with an electrostatic filter to clean the air, for example, Daikin air conditioners. But the problem is that it requires regular maintenance.
Pleated Air filters are not suitable for AC as they restrict air filtration, whereas electrostatic air filters ensure maximum air filtration.
The best part of these filters is, that you can wash and reuse them. So the cost of frequent replacement is saved.
Conclusion: Electrostatic Filter
I hope this article gave enough information about Electrostatic air filters. So next time when you buy an AC, make sure it comes with an electrostatic air filter.
Of Course, the price will be higher. But nothing is more important than clean and fresh air. Considering that investing in an AC with an electrostatic air filter makes sense.
