When it comes to air filters, you have a lot of choices, and they are important choices that affect your comfort and health. However, it can be difficult to know exactly which filters to choose without a basic knowledge of air filter science. Here’s what to know:
Filter Media Air Filter Science
Filter media air filters are your standard filters used in HVAC equipment. No matter their quality and MERV rating, they all work in a similar way. Like a sieve, media filters remove particles as airflow passes through a web of fibers.
When shopping for media filters, look for medium- or high-efficiency filters with a MERV rating of between 9 and 12 (on a MERV scale of 1 to 20). Filters in this range will capture dust, dirt, pet hair, mite parts, molds, cooking dust, and more.
HEPA Purifiers
High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters afford you the highest MERV ratings of 16 to 20. HEPA filters capture and remove 99.97% of microscopic particles, down to 0.3 micrometers.
HEPA media filters are thick and made of very thin glass fibers. However, HEPA filters can also include electrostatically charged fibers and submicron wet laid glass to help remove very fine particles better.
HEPA air filter science removes particles in three ways:
- Impaction: This is when particles directly hit fibers.
- Interception: When particles come within close range, they stick to the fibers.
- Diffusion: The smallest particles slow down and hit gas molecules. They then stick to the filter via impaction or interception.
UV Air Filter Science
Ultraviolet (UV) air filter science works by disinfecting pathogens from HVAC airflow. This is accomplished using UV lamps installed inside the return duct or the supply duct of your HVAC system. Here’s how:
- Return airflow: Air in your living spaces circulates and returns to the HVAC cooling or heating chamber via return ducts.
- UV lamps: UV lamps destroy viruses, bacteria, germs, and more as airflow passes through UV rays.
- Air supply: Newly disinfected airflow is returned to your living spaces via the supply ducts and air vents.
To learn more about how air filter science can improve IAQ, please contact Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning.
Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area