December 29, 2020

What is a hepa filter and how do they work

Almost everyone has thought about the quality of the air we breathe. Air pollution is a big problem today. Therefore, maintaining healthy air quality is important to help prevent the spread of allergens, germs, and other airborne illnesses. As a result, many of us have air purifiers. Hepa home air filtration systems are one of the most popular ways to combat poor air quality. But how does it work? Keep reading 🙂

What Is a True Hepa Filter

We tend to think of air pollution as something that happens outside. But that’s not always the case. Even inside our home, there are dust mites and dirt to worry about. Indoor air pollution can irritate your lungs and contribute to allergies and asthma. Do HEPA air filters really work? A true Hepa filter is designed to remove airborne particulates and bacteria using HEPA technology as the primary filtration. They effectively absorb airborne particles and trap them in the filter including dust mites, mold spores, pollen, and pet dander. All these allergens and bacteria in the air inside your home can cause problems even if your family doesn’t suffer from allergies or asthma. Using HEPA filters can trap these pollutants and may help bring relief.

Be careful: You may come across HEPA impostors such as “HEPA-like” or “HEPA-style”. They make a product look like a HEPA filter, but without meeting those strict standards.

Portable Hepa Filtration

You can find HEPA filters in most air purifiers. These portable units may work for a single room. Therefore, portable HEPA filtration is a great choice. If you are considering buying an air purifier with HEPA filter technology, be sure you buy one that is big enough for the room where you plan to use it. The plus of portable air purifiers is that you can move it from room to room if needed. The best place for a unit is the room where you spend most of your time. Mostly in your bedroom. But, it is not a must. You may choose any room according to your own needs.

If you want to know more about the work of an air purifier you can read an article ‘How long should an air purifier work for maximum effect’

How Do Hepa Filters Work

HEPA stands for high-efficiency particulate air. A HEPA filter is a type of mechanical air filter. It forces air through a fine mesh that traps harmful particles such as pollen, pet dander, dust mites, and tobacco smoke. Depending on the size of the particle, this can happen in four different ways: Inertial Impaction, Diffusion, Interception, or Sieving.

Larger contaminants are trapped via inertial impaction and sieving. The particles collide with the fibers and are trapped while attempting to travel through the fibers. Medium sized particles, as they move through the filter, are grabbed by the fibers via interception. Smaller particles are dissipated as they travel through the filter and eventually collide with fibers and are trapped.

Many vacuum cleaners also use HEPA filters as part of their filtration systems. This is good for asthma and allergy sufferers. Why is it so? Because the HEPA filter traps the fine particles (such as pollen and dust mite feces) which trigger allergy and asthma symptoms.

What Is a Hepa Filter Used For

The quality of air in your home is important, and purchasing an air purifier can help to improve your breathing. Using a HEPA filter in your home can remove most airborne particles that might make allergies worse. Home HEPA air filtration is used for many purposes. Let’s talk about them in more detail.

Air Purifier for Respiratory Problems

Air pollution is one of the most dangerous diseases in the human population. Asthma is often made worse by air pollution. Therefore, in-home HEPA air filtration can be very effective for everyone who suffers from asthma or has any respiratory problems because of polluted air. Clean air is key to living an allergy-free life.

Pet Dander

Are you or someone in your household allergic to cats or dogs? Do you have problems with pet odors and smells, and want an easy way to get rid of them? A HEPA air filtration system will help to get relief from pet dander. If your pet is shedding all over your floors or furniture, it is a great time to buy an air purifier or vacuum cleaner with true HEPA filters.

Mold and Odors

Mold is a type of fungus that only needs moisture and warmth to grow. It reproduces from tiny spores that cannot be even seen and floats through the air both indoors and outdoors. Typically mold accumulates in areas where moisture levels are high. Allergies, dizziness, headaches, and fatigue are a few effects that can emerge from vulnerability to mold. True HEPA filters trap airborne spores and prevent them from sticking to walls and reproducing.

Allergies

Pollen, dust, dirt, and other airborne particles can irritate allergies. All of these make us miserable with runny noses, itchy eyes or skin, sneezing, coughing. A true HEPA filtration system removes airborne particles from the air quickly.

Smoke

Studies have shown that secondhand smoke is incredibly harmful to the human body and can have serious side effects. HEPA filters can effectively eliminate smoke and tobacco pollutants and odors. If you live with or near a smoker, your decision to invest in a purifier or vacuum cleaner with true HEPA filters could make a significant difference in the way you feel.

What Are the Benefits of a Hepa Filter

Hepa filters have many advantages.

It captures both large and small particles in the air, thus, cleaning and purifying the air.
Highly recommended for asthma and allergy sufferers. If you want to get rid of pet dander, the HEPA filtration system will help you.
Size and price. Moreover, they are available in different sizes and budgets to match your needs. Models vary in their levels of work efficiency. They capture around 99.97% of the dust in your indoor air.

Disadvantages of HEPA Filters

On the other hand, it also has disadvantages.

HEPA Filters cannot be cleaned or washed to remove the dust particles.
New filters can be quite expensive.
Delicate item. HEPA Filters are delicate and could be damaged easily while installing or moving the purifier or vacuum cleaner.
Some HEPA Filters can even produce ozone or ions which could be harmful. So, be careful and read the manual before buying.
Hard choice. Don’t be fooled into buying a purifier with ‘HEPA-like’ or “HEPA-style” because they are made without meeting strict standards.

How Much Space Can a Home Hepa Filtration System Clean

HEPA filtration systems come in many shapes and sizes and with a variety of functions. If you plan to buy an air purifier with true HEPA filters, you can choose any size according to your own needs.

Compact HEPA Air Purifiers

These purifiers are small and portable. They are designed for those who want to move the device from room to room. It is quite convenient because you can purify the air in every room. They are also less expensive, and lightweight, but their smaller filters may also mean that they have small cleaning coverage areas.

Note: average coverage area is 50 – 200 sf.

Medium Room HEPA Air Purifier

Medium coverage HEPA air purifiers are a little bit larger. They are designed to purify medium to large-sized rooms. You can place it on a tabletop or counter. The larger size has a much larger HEPA filter installed in the machine.
Note: average coverage area is 200 – 500 sq. ft.

High Coverage HEPA Air Purifiers

Such types of air purifiers are perfect for large and spacious rooms, even good for offices. High coverage HEPA air purifiers are good for open concept floor plans. These purifiers have the largest footprint and filter size. High coverage HEPA air purifiers may last a little longer than the smaller units.
Note: average coverage area is 700 – 1500 sq. ft

Should You Buy a HEPA Air Purifier Filter

The main function of a HEPA Filter is to remove viruses, allergens, and bacteria from the air. It provides clean and pure air. A vacuum or air purifier with a HEPA filter is an essential purchase for anyone with a dust or pollen allergy. With HEPA technology, you know exactly what to expect. There’s no guesswork involved. You can be sure that contaminants will be removed on a microscopic level, so go ahead, take a deep breath.