Blog Articles Tagged "hepa"

The difference between an authentic HEPA filter and a normal home furnace filter is huge. There are many filter products being sold in stores and on the internet which claim to be "HEPA type" or "HEPA rated" filters. What these descriptions are attempting to get around is the fact that there are very specific qualifications for HEPA which may prevent these less-than-qualified filters from being represented truly as "HEPA."

HEPA furnace filters are high efficiency filters that screen airborne particles from the air. First created by the government in mid-1950, HEPA furnace filters work by providing several layers of fibers through which circulated air passes. As the air passes through the layers of a HEPA furnace filter, particles are caught, or filtered, in the sheets of fiber. A HEPA furnace filter removes 99.97% of the particles in the air.

Although many furnace manufacturers recommend changing the furnace filter only twice yearly, the demands of good indoor air quality, energy efficiency, and proper airflow call for more frequent changes.

In general, the type of filter may not be as important as its cleanliness. That is, unless there are allergies or COPD- related conditions suffered by any of the family members. In which case there would arise a need for more expensive HEPA-type filters (about $10-$12) apiece.

Asthma, allergies, and general breathing difficulties have led to an increased and more intensive movement to improve home air quality. Indoor air quality contamination is most often accidental and simply a result of home neglect – resulting in dust and mold inside the ventilation system.