Furnace Air Filters
These catch the dirt, but not the pollutants
Every furnace comes with an air filter. Many people do not know that they need to replace the air filter on their furnace, and others pay a service to come in and replace their furnace filter for them. Either way, most people know little, if anything, about this integral device. Well, it's time to get educated about the furnace air filter.
Most furnace filters are ordinary, disposable, two-dollar air filters that catch a little more than 67 percent of dirt and dust granules and very little else. In fact, some reports suggest that furnace air filters catch as little as 2.5 percent of tiny air pollutants – the kind that have an important bearing on your health and the health of your children. If you filter out the dirt but leave the micropollutants, you are not getting effective air treatment.
Treat yourself better
Treated filters are somewhat more effective. They are slightly more expensive than ordinary furnace air filters, and they still need to be replaced, but one 10- or 15-dollar filter will last you months – probably an entire heating season depending on where you live.
Treated filters are coated with mineral oil or glycol, which traps dirt. A treated filter arrests about the same number of larger particles as an untreated filter, but its rate of filtering for smaller (but still very harmful) particulates is closer to 10 percent. This qualifies as mid-range efficiency.
Electronic furnace filters (also called electrostatic air filters) are permanent units that work with either your hot air furnace or your air conditioner. Electric models need to be kept charged, but they are essentially on par with HEPA filters when it comes to filtering capacity, removing particles as small as 1 micron.
Of course, you will have to pay for the quality. The price for electronic furnace filters can get as high as $500. However, it's difficult to find a filter that will do a better job of protecting your family's health.
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