How Does an Electrostatic Air Cleaner Work?

An electrostatic air cleaner can be mounted to your furnace near the ductwork or the air exchanger. In such an air cleaner, a static electric charge is added to the dust particles in the air. The cleaner than takes these particles out of the air and deposits then onto a plate in the unit with opposite charges. The plate, which acts as a filter, needs to be taken out and washed on a regular basis. This type of air cleaner may be expensive to install, but the cost is minimal when compared to the cleaner air that you will have in your home.

I'll never have to dust again - right?

One of the common misconceptions with the electrostatic air purifiers is that they eliminate the dust. On the contrary, the dust will continue to build up on surfaces in your home. There is no air cleaner or purifier system that totally eliminates dusting. The electrostatic cleaner is however, an excellent way to help control the dust particles.

Some experts believe the best air purifier for your home is actually a central vacuum system with outdoor vents. The filters in these air purifiers take the dirt out of the air and blow it out of the house through these vents. Carpeting also attracts pollutants and many people are now switching to hardwood flooring to help improve the air quality in the home.

How do I measure filtration effectiveness?

If you decide to use an air filter to keep the air clean in your home, you should first look at the percentage of the filtration efficiency and the amount of air it filters each second. The higher this rating the more effective the filter will be.