According to Time Magazine, Fresno is one of the top 10 cities in the U.S. with a poor AQI (Air Quality Index). The AQI is a national reporting standard on the quality of the air we breathe. Bad air is a fact of life for us in the Fresno area, and a sub-par AQI can translate into poor indoor air quality as well, which is why using electrostatic air filters in your home is recommended.
How do electrostatic air filters work? While a standard air filter performs sufficiently to filter larger air particles from the air, they fail to grab some of the smaller particles. Electrostatic air filters use the naturally occurring phenomenon of static electricity to capture air particulates.
These filters use combinations of polyurethane and polypropylene layers and filtration media, which generate static electricity by creating friction as air passes through the filter. The combination of positive and negative ions creates a magnetic field that attracts air particulates as they pass through the filtration material.
What particles do they trap? An electrostatic air filter is very efficient at capturing between 80 and 90 percent of dust, pollen, pet dander, bacteria, mold spores and smoke in your indoor air. This is a much higher rate of capture than standard fiberglass or cotton-pleated filters. If you suffer from a variety of airborne allergies, electrostatic air filters may be a reasonable way to reverse poor indoor air quality.
Why might a homeowner install them? There are several other reasons besides improved air quality for the homeowner to consider when considering an electrostatic air filter.
- They can provide cost savings from repairs by protecting your coils and interior A/C parts from dust.
- You only have to purchase one reusable filter.
- An electrostatic air filter is made of a durable aluminum frame instead of paper products.
- Electrostatic air filters can be easily maintained with vacuuming and water rinsing.
For more information from Mr. Cool about going “green” with electrostatic air filters, contact us at Donald P. Dick Air Conditioning. We have been serving the greater Fresno area for over 40 years.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in the greater Fresno, California area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about electrostatic filters and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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