Explaining HEPA Filters to People Articles | Environment

By: Darren Williger

HEPA filters tend to be among the popular air filtration methods that are currently in existence today. If you consider the statistics, these air filtration filters may be the most popular options which are currently being used in homes all over the world today. These HEPA filters were initially manufactured for use in both military and medical installations, which shows you how effective they are in these demanding environments. Such filters have the ability to get rid of impurities that may be as small as .03 microns from the air that we inhale on a daily basis. They are also capable of removing as much as 99.97% of the pollutants and particles which are found in your air today.

HEPA actually means High Efficiency Particulate Air and it was created and developed as far back as the 1940’s by researchers at the Atomic Energy Commission. The initial purpose of these devices was to capture radioactive dust and since then their purpose has changed substantially. Currently HEPA devices are quite capable of cleaning dust, pollens as well as other allergens that may be found in the air that we breathe in our homes and offices.

These devices are made of a paper-like fiber sheet that is pleated in a “V” pattern with corrugated aluminum separators kept between these pleats. HEPA filters are usually bonded on a sturdy base and form the core of the filter. The main disadvantage of the system is that filters have to be changed on a regular basis since it is very efficient and tends to capture particles within it and causes the device to get clogged easily.

HEPA filtration system.

Unlike air filters which tend to have the ability to neutralize viruses and bacteria, HEPA filters tend to be able to capture them when they are spores which does not protect members of your family from contracting the viruses or bacteria until these filters are actually replaced.

Some other drawbacks to the system include: 

• The use of motorized fans that can be annoyingly loud to some.
• Ineffectiveness in large open spaces (they are best used in smaller confined areas). 
• Filters are expensive to replace and must be done so regularly.
• HEPA can be brittle, and be easily damaged during installation.

Regardless of these problems, the HEPA filter is still the most popular of all the air cleaning systems which can be currently found on the market today. The reasons are very simple. They perform very well. Everywhere from hospitals to airports, offices and malls,, you’ll find HEPA filters at work cleaning out the air. Other than this, these air filters have been functioning and providing these benefits for a very long time. These were one of the earliest air purifications systems that were invented and they have been effectively cleaning out air for decades.

One thing that you should remember when you are purchasing an air filter is that the size of your air filter is really important. The larger the device, the better the device will be able to filter pollutants from the air and trap them. The material and make of the model that you select can also affect how effectively it cleans out the air in your home. You should make sure that you do your shopping carefully and buy models only from manufacturers that have been well established and which have claims that are backed by research.