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What Is a High Efficiency Air Filter?

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What Is a High Efficiency Air Filter?

Having good indoor air quality is important to your year-round, overall comfort. One way to help ensure that your indoor air quality is at the level you need and want it to be is by using a high efficiency air filter, also known as a HEPA filter, in your Springfield, PA, home. However, before installing any kind of HEPA filter into your HVAC system, it’s very important to consult with an indoor air quality expert. This is because the media in a HEPA filter can be so strong that it significantly reduces the air flow in your HVAC system, which can lead to operational problems. Wm. Henderson Plumbing & Heating Inc., has been providing indoor air quality services for almost 40 years, and our IAQ specialists can help you determine which HEPA filter is best for your home. Call us today!

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MERV and HEPA

MERV and HEPA are intertwined because MERV, which stands for minimum efficiency reporting value, tells consumers how effective a particular air filter is. The MERV scale runs from 1 to 20, and to qualify as a HEPA filter, the filter has to have a minimum MERV of 13 and these other qualifications:

  • The filter must be able to trap particles as small as 3 microns (human hair is typically 70-100 microns in size)
  • The filter must be tested according to US Military standard 282, and each tested filter must be individually certified and labeled with its test results
  • The filter must have a minimum efficiency rating of 99.97%

 

What Makes a HEPA Filter Different?

One of the main differences between HEPA mechanical filters and those that aren’t HEPA is the capture capability. HEPA filters are made to capture a great many particles, including some biological contaminants. This is because of how they are made, which brings us to a second difference between HEPA filters and non-HEPA filters. The media of HEPA filters is made with a glass-fiber type of paper that is highly effective at capturing particles. This paper is folded into small V-shaped pleats that are held firmly in place by aluminum separators between each pleat. Pleating makes it difficult for particles to continue passing through filter media, which is part of the reason why HEPA filters are so effective.

As mentioned above, HEPA filters should only be installed into your HVAC system after working with a qualified specialist. If you feel a high efficiency air filter in Springfield, PA is for you, call the indoor air quality experts at Wm. Henderson Plumbing & Heating Inc., today!

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