Making Sense Of HEPA Filters

The fact that you are reading an article about HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters means you probably already understand that there are smoke particles, dust mites, pollen, dander, mold and other microscopic hazards floating around in your household air and settling on flat surfaces. A quality HEPA system is the key to eliminating these hazard.

HEPA filters date back to World War II, when laboratories conducting radioactive experiments needed a way to keep radioactive particles from escaping the lab. HEPA is not a brand name, but rather a rating level. In order to use the HEPA signifier, a filter must remove 99.97 percent of all particles that are 0.3 microns or larger in size from the air in a laboratory environment. To give you an idea of that size, on average, a human hair is 100 microns thick.

When considering a HEPA system for your home, the most important decision you will make is whether to purchase a whole-house system or a portable unit. Due to the density of HEPA-rated filters, it takes a powerful fan to force air through the filtering medium. It is for this reason that most existing whole-house systems will not be able to adapt to filtering through a HEPA filter. However, if your family’s health requirements necessitate ensuring the air purity and cleanliness of the entire household, this may be the way to go.

Portable units are equipped with powerful fans, which are noisy (since the fan is in the room with you) and only effective within a five-foot radius of the portable unit. A good whole-house air-cleaning system uses your existing duct system to clean every room in the house. Now that you’re armed with basic information on HEPA systems, contact Overland Park Heating & Cooling to get our recommendations, and consider working with us to design a system that meets the exact needs of your family.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information, click here to download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Overland Park Heating & Cooling services Overland Park and surrounding areas in Kansas. To get started, check out our website or see our current specials.