Pros and Cons of Electrostatic Filters

Pros of Electrostatic Air Filters

• Electrostatic air filters can be installed in place of furnace filters made from paper, foam or other synthetics. They trap significant amounts of airborne pollutants like dust, dander, smoke, mold spores and pollen. They can be washed when the dust collects on them, dried, and easily replaced in the air handler. These filters are significantly less expensive than HEPA filters. (HEPA stands for high efficiency particulate air.) HEPA filters are not reusable once they are saturated with particulates.

Benefits to Home and Family

• Electrostatic filters remove tiny debris and keep the particulate matter from collecting on the surfaces inside the air handler, which prolongs its life and saves electricity. The filters also reduce dusting inside the home and keep floors and upholstered surfaces cleaner.

  They also reduce suffering from allergies and create cleaner air inside the home. Since the electrostatic charge is essentially static electricity, they do not use any power to filter the air. These filters last for years, minimizing the amount of waste a household creates.

Cons of Electrostatic Filters

• Electrostatic air filters only clean the air when the air handler is running, unlike portable filters, which can run 24/7 in individual rooms. If the air pollutant load in a house is high, the electrostatic air filters may not be as effective at cleaning the indoor air as the portable air cleaners are, particularly the HEPA filters that remove dust or particulates up to 0.3 microns. (A micron measures 0.000039 inches.)

  Electrostatic air filters cannot remove gaseous substances from indoor air, such as odors or byproducts from gas cooking ranges or ovens.