HEPA vs Electrostatic: Which Air Purifier is Best?
The air in your home is vital to your health and your quality of life. When you invest in your health with an air purifier, it is important to purchase the most effective technology available. Deciding which technology fits you best can be confusing, as there are a variety of air purification technologies to consider—like deciding between HEPA Air Purifiers and Electrostatic Air Purifiers.
Electrostatic and HEPA Air Purifiers are two technologies that appear similar; however, they have major differences in their technology and particle removal. Electrostatic Air Purifiers work with static electricity to charge particles inside the air purifier. As a result, the charged particles stick to the sides of the internal filtration system and are removed from your indoor air. Unlike HEPA Air Purifiers, Electrostatic Air Purifiers do not use filters. Instead, owners are instructed to rinse out the internal filtration system every four to six weeks. HEPA Air Purifiers, like all Alen Air Purifiers, use HEPA style filtration to capture and remove particles from your indoor air.
After six to eight months of regular use, it is recommended to replace your HEPA Air Purifiers' filters for optimal air quality. By replacing your filters, you dispose of the particles, remove them from your home and improve the performance of your HEPA Air Purifier.
As a comparison, Electrostatic Air Purifiers may appear to provide a benefit of never having to replace filters. However, the minute particles begin collecting in the filtration system, the air purifier's efficiency begins to decrease. Cleaning these particles can be quite complicated, as it requires taking apart the internal filtration system and sometimes using specified cleaning fluids for best results. In addition, you must wait until the system is completely dry to return it to the air purifier, which may take some time. Ensuring the performance of HEPA Air Purifiers requires little time investment as you simply replace the old filter.
HEPA Air Purifiers and Electrostatic Air Purifiers also vary in their first-pass efficiency rate. By definition, this is the amount of particles captured by the air purifier during the first air exchange. To understand this, think of dusting your home. When you remove a large amount of dust with your first swipe of a duster, you are removing dust faster and more efficiently. This is the same as a first-pass efficiency rate. It is simply the rate of mold, dust, dander, pollen, etc. removed during the air's first pass through HEPA Air Purifiers' or Electrostatic Air Purifiers' filtration system.
HEPA Air Purifiers typically have an 87-99 percent first-pass efficiency rate, meaning HEPA Air Purifiers catch more particles faster. Electrostatic Air Purifiers have a 60-80 percent first-pass efficiency rate and require a longer amount of time to improve your indoor air quality. In addition, Electrostatic Air Purifiers must be run at a lower speed to be most effective. Meaning, if air passes through too quickly, particles will not be charged and removed by the air purifier. HEPA Air Purifiers may be run at any level and still catch 87-99 percent of airborne particles within the first air exchange.
Overall, HEPA Air Purifiers have a clear edge over Electrostatic Air Purifiers which is why we recommend HEPA purifiers as a superior alternative. Check out some of our bestselling HEPA Air Purifiers featured below to learn how they can help you enjoy cleaner indoor air.
