Which types of air filters are the best?

There are a wide variety of types of air filters and they are generally referred to as either disposable or reusable air filters. The main differences between filters is the size of the filter (length, width and thickness) and the filter material or “media” that is used in the manufacture of the filter.

Reusable air filters sound like a good idea, but they don't always do an efficient job of filtering the air. Nearly every reusable filter is treated with an anti-microbial agent designed to help control airborne bacteria and microbes. While this agent usually does the job of controlling airborne bacteria, the problems arise when the filter must be cleaned. After several months the filter tends to be a sticky, dirty mess that is difficult to clean and usually requires some type of chemical cleaner to complete the task because soap and water no longer do the job adequately. Once a chemical is used on the filter, it tends to be absorbed into the filter media itself and is released back into the circulating air that you are trying to protect.

Disposable air filters, such as those found at Wal Mart or Home Depot, are the most commonly used type of air filter in most homes today. They are inexpensive and can be found almost anywhere. Most of these types of filters use fiberglass as the filter media and remove only the largest of airborne particulates. Because of the limited ability of these fiberglass units to filter out finer particulates, their use should only be considered as a minimum protection against airborne particulates.

Pleated air filters are similar to disposable air filters in that the filter media is enclosed in a rigid panel usually made of cardboard. However, the media in a pleated filter resembles fabric and has the capability of removing much smaller particulate from the air stream. In addition, because the material is pleated, it provides more surface area for filtration. Pleating usually adds more than twice the available surface area compared to a standard un-pleated filter.

Electrostatic pleated air filters are the next step above a standard pleated air filter. In an electrostatic pleated air filter, the media material is electrically charged so that the media material itself draws more particulate to it by acting very similar to a magnet. An electrostatic filter also does not permit the growth of bacteria which can be a problem with other types of filters, especially if they aren't changed on a regular basis.

Regardless of what type of filter you use, changing them on a regular basis is the single most important thing you can do. To read more about filters and sign up for a free furnace filter and filter change reminder service visit this web site - Free Furnace Filter