2 Things You Should Know About Washable Air Filters
What kind of HVAC filters do you use in your Sarasota, Florida, home? Disposable air filters can feel like a wasteful hassle when you’re throwing them away and buying new ones every month or two. Washable air filters seem like an environmental solution to throwing away HVAC filters, but are they as effective as the disposable variety?
Basic Filtration
Disposable filters use fiberglass and textiles to filter the air in your home. Depending on the pleats and the thickness of the material, these filters can sometimes trap very small particulates, like mold spores, that cause allergies, health problems and asthma flare-ups.
Washable filters use static electricity to trap particles. Although they are effective against dust, they often miss the smallest dust particles and other allergens that are an issue for those with respiratory or other health problems. If you only need basic filtration, a washable filter will work. Whichever filter you use, it is important that you clean or change it as recommended, to keep your indoor air quality at a high level.
Thorough Cleaning is Essential
When you wash the filter, you need to spend time doing it. Running it under the water and removing the visible debris isn’t enough. Small particles might remain on the filter, reducing its ability to filter the air effectively. You also have to ensure that the filter is totally dry before you put it back. Water reduces the filter’s ability to produce static electricity. If the filter has no static, it doesn’t work. Furthermore, if the filter is not dried properly, it can lead to mold growth.
The best air filtration comes from HEPA disposable filters. It is a good idea to contact the pros at Custom Air, Inc. at (866) 819-0992 before you change the type of filter you’re using. We can tell you what kind of filter will work best with your current HVAC system. We’ll also perform HVAC maintenance on your system. If you haven’t been changing your filters, we can show you how. Ask us about duct cleaning, too, so we can get rid of any debris that has built up in your ductwork.