Electrostatic Air Filters: How Do They Work?

Electrostatic Air Filters: How Do They Work?

Electrostatic air filters are a very effective way to improve the indoor air quality in your home. Therefore, if you are considering an air filtration system for your home, you may be looking for information about this type of filter and how it differs from other filtration systems.

What Are Electrostatic Air Filters?

Electrostatic air filters look similar to the normal air filters you may have seen installed in air conditioning and heating vents. Also, they come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes designed to fit any ventilation style layout or configuration. Furthermore, they are 1/2- to 1-inch wide and contain several layers:

• A combination of polyurethane and polypropylene fibers woven tightly together make up the first layers closest to the airflow.
• Polyester mesh makes up the outer layers.
• Aluminum grates to keep the filter rigid, covers both sides of the filter.

How Do They Work?

Unlike traditional air filters that simply trap dust and other particles as the air passes through them, the unique blend of materials used in these filters creates static electricity. This static gives each of the filter’s layers an electric charge, alternating between positive and negative. These charges are passed onto any particles that pass through them. As they pass through the positively charged layer, the particles pick up a positive charge which then causes attraction to the negatively charged layer like a magnet to your refrigerator.

You can use this type of air filter in portable air-cleaning devices. Also, you can have professionals install them in the ductwork of your HVAC system.

Keeping Your Indoor Air Cleaner

The process for these filters makes them more effective than traditional air filters, which can only remove particles that are large enough to get stuck in their layers. Electrostatic air filters are so effective they can even remove tiny irritants. As a result, these filters pull particles like smoke from your air.

Other benefits include:

• Low cost because you won’t have to replace any filter material
• Washable/reusable collector plates
• Effective for removing dust and other particles from the air if they are kept clean

Air-Tro Is Your Answer for Electrostatic Air Filters

If you have more questions about electrostatic air filters or other ways to improve your indoor air quality, contact us at Air-Tro Inc. For over 50 years, we’ve helped the folks of Pasadena and the entire Greater Southern California area breath easier in their homes. And we would like to do the same for you.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the greater Monrovia, California area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).

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