Electrostatic Air Filter Information to Know

Deciding between an electrostatic air filter and the traditional fiberglass types can be difficult, especially if you're extremely worried about the air quality in your home. These two types of air filtration systems are vastly different from one another, so knowing how they both work is an absolute necessity. Electrostatic models also have some negative side effects that you should know before considering using them with your HVAC or air purifying system.

While fiberglass air filtration systems depend on millions of very small fiberglass shards to stop, block, and slow down airborne particles, electrostatics approach it very differently. Just as the name suggests, they use static charges to attract dust and other harmful air particles to metal plates and hold them there. This method is effective, and studies suggest that an electrostatic air filter can remove up to 95.3% of harmful airborne particles.

Utilizing these filters with your HVAC unit can reduce the amount of power needed to heat or cool your home due to their low air resistance. The downside to this is that they must be located in rooms where you spend a good amount of time to truly be efficient. The same goes for air purifiers that use electrostatics to remove airborne particles.

There are two very important facts you need to know about before deciding on an electrostatic air filter. The first is the charged particles they create. The system attracts particles by charging them, but they do not necessarily stay on the metal plate. Charged particles can and do attach themselves to other surfaces, leaving an ugly black residue after some time. This happens most often to walls and is an unfortunate and unavoidable issue with these types of air filtration systems.

The second issue is even more serious than the first. Some electrostatic purification systems can produce ozone, which is extremely harmful to both you and your household objects. Ozone can cause severe respiratory problems over time, some of which are irreversible. It also oxidizes the surfaces of items in the room, which makes them deteriorate faster. This is especially true for anything metal, which starts to rust once oxidizing occurs.

These systems are very effective against allergens and any other type of airborne particles, but the risks that they have may be too much for you to be able to handle. Not all of these filters cause these problems, and if you are interested in a specific model then looking for consumer reviews can help you decide on which is best for your home. An electrostatic air filter is the second best you can get, right under HEPA air filters. Take the information above into account and make the best choice for you and your family.