The Most Common Air Purifier Filters

The most standard air purifier filters are particle sheet units, which are made of millions of very small shards and particles of fiberglass. These shards and particles are randomly shot into the wide frame of the filter, and then in turn when sold, the filter is placed in an air purifier. The question is: how are millions of tiny pieces of fiberglass supposed to stop harmful allergens or airborne particles? The way it works could be considered luck, but it is actually far from it.

The fiberglass particles are packed very tightly into the small space of the filter and held together by wire. Due to the fact that they are held so closely together they act as a a barrier against anything 0.2 micrometers to 0.7 micrometers, though that amount varies depending on the filter itself. You can find higher grade air purifier filters that can protect against airborne particles that are 0.1 micrometers, which will give you the best protection possible against airborne particles.

The highest grade of commercial and residential filter is HEPA, which is the gold standard for air filters. While their industrial or medical strength models are used in places that need absolute sterilization, their residential filters are as close as you can get to pure oxygen. They are over 99 percent effective at blocking out airborne allergens or particles. Any filters that say they are HEPA-type or 95 percent HEPA are not truly what they say they are: filters that only say they are HEPA are high quality.

If you have an electrostatic purifier, then obviously you need electrostatic air purifier filters. These work by charging airborne particles and attracting them to the system’s internal metal plates. These are second only to HEPA fiberglass filters, and in the long run they can be more affordable. Instead of replacing electrostatic filter models, all you need to do is give them a good scrub down, then they are back to full effectiveness. If you are planning to use your air purifier for at least another few years, investing in an electrostatic model will be cheaper in the long run, even if they are more expensive at the start.

Filters that are not high quality or are poorly made are not good enough to truly protect you from the particles that could be coming into your home, which is what purifiers are supposed to do. If you are worried about your respiratory health, it is going to be a much more sound investment to put some extra money towards a filter that is more expensive than almost all of the other ones you can find on discount shelves. Your wallet should not come before your well-being, and purchasing a high quality air purifier filter with ensure that you stay healthy and make sure that you are safe from anything that could possibly be harmful.

You need to pay attention to the air purifier filters you purchase. Those that are low quality will not protect you from much, but those that are HEPA or other high grade air purifier filters will help keep your air clean.