Electrostatic HVAC air filters

[Chas B. Wolfson, SASS #11104]

 Anyone here have experience with electrostatic air filters?  With the new HVAC system installed I was curious if these work as advertised or should I stick to using the pleated style.

Thanks,

Chas B 

 

[Rip Snorter]

Had them in my last house with a traditional gas furnace - excellent!  Just clean them (easy) on a regular schedule.  Nothing to buy! They would not work on my current electric / geothermal so regular paper.  Again, they work well when regularly changed.  The big tip here is to find a place where you can get the filters by the case - cheaper by a good bit and you always have them on hand.

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

I've had mine for about seven months and my only gripes are that they are damned near impossible to change because of where they are put....and if you aren't careful they will shock your jock off.  Mine are due to be charged and I called the installer to show me one more time how to do it.

[Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967]

During allergy season the Former Missus Hardpan was a mess.  For weeks on end, constant snuffling, miserable, and could blow yer hat off with a sneeze.  Normally, she'd sneeze like a mouse.

 

So one day I bought one of those "electrostatic filters."  Looked like close-weave monofilament.  Installed it; within two hours she stopped snuffling and sneezing.

 

Yup... they work!  Just clean 'em reg'lar - backflush with the garden hose or shower.  😉

 

 

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

Okay, question: Just HOW do these things work? Forty Rod mentioned them being charged. But when I research them, it talks about the motion of the air making them work. 

Even with the second best filters I get, about every 5 years or so, the service company wants to disassemble  the unit and clean the fan. To the tune of $500! Will an electrostatic filter prevent that? 

The filters I get claim a MERV of 11, while the electrostatic filters claim a MERV of 5. Are they actually cleaner? If so, I wouldn't mind paying $50 or $60 to do that. 

[Rye Miles #13621]

I have to admit I’d never heard of these! Well I found this…..

 

Pros & Cons

Pros: Lifetime cost savings, eco-friendly (zero trash), highly durable aluminum or stainless steel frames.

Cons: Must dry completely before reinstallation to prevent mold/bacteria growth in ducts; less effective against micro-particles (smoke, viruses, fine bacteria) compared to high-MERV disposable or HEPA filters.

Edited Tuesday at 11:22 AM by Rye Miles #13621

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

7 hours ago, Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770 said:

Okay, question: Just HOW do these things work? Forty Rod mentioned them being charged. But when I research them, it talks about the motion of the air making them work. 

Even with the second best filters I get, about every 5 years or so, the service company wants to disassemble  the unit and clean the fan. To the tune of $500! Will an electrostatic filter prevent that? 

The filters I get claim a MERV of 11, while the electrostatic filters claim a MERV of 5. Are they actually cleaner? If so, I wouldn't mind paying $50 or $60 to do that. 

The ones I got have a "button" near the center with an electric "wand" that just barely touches it.  It's a one use and throw it away unit and may nor be  an "electrostatic" filter at all, but that's what the tech that put it in called it.

 

Whatever it is, it works very nicely.  Something else that may or may not be related:  I see a lot fewer flying critters in the house since it was installed.

[Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967]

The ones I've been familiar with literally develop their own "static charge" from the air flowing through them ~ no external power required. 

[Rip Snorter]

Never had trouble with mold or mildew - mine were def an electricity powered device with a shut off switch. Filters permanent very sturdy steel frame and aluminum mesh absolutely have to be dry after cleaning before reinstall.  Can't go look, sold the house 18 years ago -so  just memory!

[Chas B. Wolfson, SASS #11104]

1 hour ago, Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967 said:

The ones I've been familiar with literally develop their own "static charge" from the air flowing through them ~ no external power required. 

 This is the type of filter I am curious about.

[Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967]

19 minutes ago, Chas B. Wolfson, SASS #11104 said:

 This is the type of filter I am curious about.

 

Well, I've been purty happy with 'em.  And as far as having to be totally dry when re-intalled?  Heck - I  just shook 'em out and put 'em in.  Turn on the blower and it's dry in minutes, if not seconds....  🙂

 

 

Edited Tuesday at 10:03 PM by Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

I guess what I'm wondering is are they any better than a paper filter when it comes to filtering household dust? Or is it just that you clean them instead of replacing them?

[Rip Snorter]

Maybe better, hard to say since it is dustier here by far and I have 3 dogs instead of 2 plus 2 kids.  I liked the system better than what we have now, and in both cases vacuuming and dusting required to keep the place decent are pretty similar, given a household in the country with big dogs.

Edited Wednesday at 12:01 AM by Rip Snorter
Typo

[Sedalia Dave]

20 hours ago, Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770 said:

The filters I get claim a MERV of 11, while the electrostatic filters claim a MERV of 5. Are they actually cleaner? If so, I wouldn't mind paying $50 or $60 to do that. 

 

 The higher the MERV rating the better the filter.

 

See the below chart.

 

 

[Buckshot Bear]

What are you pards talkin' about.....air conditioning unit???

[Rip Snorter]

A device that, heat or cool, stops dust particles from forced air systems.

[Chas B. Wolfson, SASS #11104]

3 minutes ago, Buckshot Bear said:

What are you pards talkin' about.....air conditioning unit???

 Yes, filtration for a HVAC system for an entire home.

[Buckshot Bear]

1 hour ago, Chas B. Wolfson, SASS #11104 said:

 Yes, filtration for a HVAC system for an entire home.

 

Thanks here in Australia we just have split system air conditioners and not ducted for most domestic houses. We have five split systems throughout the house (century + old house).