What Are Electrostatic Air Filters?

It’s estimated that the air inside of most homes and buildings is up to five times more polluted than the outdoor air, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). While you can’t control levels of outdoor air pollution, you can control levels of indoor air pollution. Using a high-quality air filter in your heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC) will result in cleaner air. Instead of a pleated air filter, though, you may want to use an electrostatic air filter.

Overview of Electrostatic Air Filters

Electrostatic air filters are HVAC-installed air filters that leverage static electricity to filter the air. They are designed to fit into air handlers or furnaces where they remove pollutants from the air. As air flows them, electrostatic air filters will generate static electricity. Pollutants in the air will then remain stuck inside of electrostatic air filters.

How Electrostatic Air Filters Work

They may look like conventional pleated air filters, but electrostatic air filters use a different method of operation. Electrostatic air filters consist of multiple layers. The first layer is typically a pre-filter. The second layer is an ionizer. The first layer is a collector.

Air will initially flow through the pre-filter, which will remove some of the large particulate matter from the air. Air will then flow through the ionizer layer. The ionizer layer will add an electric charge to the air so that sticks to the electrostatic air filter. Finally, air will flow through the collector. The collector layer is designed to hold the electrically charged air. Pollutants in the air will remain stuck inside of the collector layer, thus allowing clean air to exit the filter.

Is an Electrostatic Air Filter Work It?

Now that you know what they are, you might be wondering if an electrostatic air filter is worth it. You can save money by switching to an electrostatic air filter. While pleated air filters are disposable, electrostatic air filters are washable. You can use an electrostatic air filter for many years as long as you keep it clean.

Electrostatic air filters are highly effective at removing pollutants from the air. They are available in high Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) ratings. Therefore, they can filter small, fine particles from the air.

Most electrostatic air filters are interchangeable with pleated air filters. Even if your HVAC system currently uses a pleated air filter, it probably supports an electrostatic air filter. You just need to choose an electrostatic air filter in the right dimensional size.