What Makes HEPA Air Filters Different?

The average Northeast Florida home’s indoor air quality is 10 times more polluted than the outdoor air, which is consistent with national trends in indoor pollution. Indoor air can become “bottled up,” especially in homes that are sealed tightly to maximize energy efficiency, as it isn’t exchanged as often. These are a few reasons why indoor air filters are so important to your health and the integrity of your equipment. Different filtration methods are available. HEPA air filters are one of the most popular options, because of their ability to capture more than 99.95 percent of particles.
HEPA stands for High Efficiency Particulate Arrestance. HEPA filters are generally capable of capturing particles as small as 0.3 microns, which is smaller than the human eye can see. Originally developed for military and biomechanical use, they are currently some of the most efficient residential air filters on the market. HEPA filters can remove:

■Dust

■Dust mites

■Pollen

■Mold spores

■Various allergens

■Pet dander

HEPA filter fibers are usually made of fiberglass and are arranged haphazardly, very close to one another to create a dense “mat.” The material has many more pleats per inch than in standard filters. Another way they differ from standard air filters in that they do not merely function like a “sieve,” but rely on air movement to trap particles in three different ways:

■Interception, in which particles become stuck to fibers

■Impaction, in which particles get stuck in the weave

■Diffusion, where the most minuscule particles collide with gas molecules, slowing down their process and making them more likely to be trapped by interception or impaction.

HEPA filters are not the only option out there. Some homeowners find that HEPA filters can make their systems work too hard pull air through the filter, so check with the technician the next time you’re due for preventive maintenance to find out the right filter for your system.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).For more information about Indoor Air Quality and other HVAC topics,click here to visit our website.