Since the fall, your home’s heating system has been working at full capacity. But did you know that your furnace does more than just heat your home? In fact, in addition to ensuring your comfort, it also cleans the air you breathe thanks to various filtration systems whose role is to capture the particles produced by cooking, tobacco smoke, fireplace smoke, pet hair, and all types of dust generated by your domestic activities or coming from outside. It is therefore essential to check the filters during frequent maintenance of the home’s heating system. If you don’t clean or change them, you risk inhaling a high level of dust during the 12 to 15 weeks of the cold season, in addition to compromising the performance of the heating system.
Types of filters
There are several types of filters on the market: fiberglass, electrostatic, electronic, and pleated. Depending on their type and quality, the air cleaning capacity varies greatly.
Fiberglass filters: inexpensive but not very effective
In use since the 1950s, fiberglass filters are the least efficient and clean the air the worst. According to a study by the American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), their efficiency is only 3% to 5%! And despite their low cleaning power, they should generally be changed every two to three weeks. In addition, they are not washable and should be discarded after use. You can get them for as little as $1 or maybe a little more. Will you really save money despite the low price? And what about their poor ecological quality if you have to throw them away?
Electrostatic filters: much better
As the name implies, electrostatic filters trap dust through the phenomenon of static. There are two types. The first, called “live”, polarizes the dust by creating an electrostatic field using electricity. The second, which does not consume any electrical energy, owes its electrostatic power to its components. Thus, like a comb that is rubbed, it captures dust and particles suspended in the air.
The result obtained with these filters is superior to that of a fiberglass filter, but because of their efficiency, which can reach up to 60%, they clog up quickly. Therefore, they must be cleaned often. Some of them are even washable, but this reduces their filtering power. Like fiberglass filters, they are not permanent, and to provide quality air, it is best to clean them once a month and change them every three months. You’ll pay $25 or more for this type of filter, and you can be sure of its quality if it’s ASHRAE-approved.
Electronic Filters: Superior Performance
Electronic filters almost completely remove dust from the air. However, they have the disadvantage of producing small amounts of ozone during operation, which can be harmful to people with certain respiratory conditions such as asthma. On the other hand, they have the advantage of being permanent and can be cleaned, but to maintain their full effectiveness, they must be cleaned often. Ultrasonic cleaning gives them a near-refurbishment.
However, the reality is that they are being neglected and that is when ozone problems are most noticeable. Professionals and consumers alike are moving away from this technology for this reason and also because it is expensive. The filter alone can cost up to $250 and you will have to pay about $900 to install it. There are filters that are just as effective, if not more so, for much less money from TechIdea. Since the fall, your home’s heating system has been running at full capacity. But did you know that this device does more than just heat your home? In fact, in addition to ensuring your comfort, it also cleans the air you breathe thanks to various filtration systems whose role is to capture the particles produced by cooking, tobacco smoke, fireplace smoke, animal hair, and all types of dust generated by your domestic activities or coming from outside. It is therefore essential to check the filters during frequent maintenance of the home’s heating system. If they are not cleaned or changed, you risk breathing in high levels of dust during the 12 to 15 weeks of the cold season, in addition to compromising the performance of the heating system.