How HEPA Filtration Boosts Indoor Air Quality

While medium-efficiency HVAC filters do a lot to clean your home’s air, they still allow many small contaminant particles to circulate. To keep finer respiratory irritants out of your air, HEPA filtration is the next step.

HEPA stands for high-efficiency particulate air. Like other particulate filters, HEPA filters use a fine mesh to capture dust, dust mites, pollen, mold spores and tobacco smoke particles in passing air.

It’s the design that makes HEPA filters more efficient than other particulate filter types. Most HEPA filters are made of fine, densely packed fiberglass arranged to allow air through but trap pollutant particles. This mesh catches particles in several ways. Some particles stick to the filter, others are pressed into the filter by air flowing through, and still other particles stick to particles already in the filter.

These highly effective filtration systems are used in hospitals, research labs and other locations where clean air is high priority.

HEPA filter systems offer:

• Highly efficient filtration – A certified HEPA filter has been tested and proven to capture at least 99.97 percent of air contaminants down to 0.3 microns in size. This means the filter will trap the majority of particles that trigger allergies, asthma attacks and sinus problems. HEPA filtration systems typically contain a pre-filter to catch large particles like dust and pet dander. This filter is replaced around once every three months. The HEPA filter then captures the remaining smaller particles and only needs to be replaced every 2 to 5 years.

• Carbon filtration – A HEPA filtration system may also contain a carbon filter to control household odors. These filters are made of activated charcoal, a type of charcoal specially treated to open pores between the carbon atoms. This allows the carbon to absorb odor-causing particles.

• No re-contamination – Higher quality systems use a sealed bypass design that prevents particles from flowing back through the filter once they’ve entered.

For more expert guidance on choosing or installing a HEPA filtration system, contact us at Sobieski Services.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC & plumbing systems).

Image Credit: bjorn.watland