Indoor air in your home can be filled with dust, mold, chemicals and various contaminants. Air purification filters can capture many of these particles and pollutants floating in the air to give you and your family better air to breathe. But a HEPA filter provides enhanced filtration over the results of other types of filters.
These specialty filters are used in medical facilities, in aircraft and other vehicles, and in other professional and industrial capacities because of their superior cleaning abilities. They are also often included in vacuums and recommended for people who suffer from allergies. What makes a HEPA filter stand above regular filters?
Characteristics of a HEPA Filter
HEPA filters, or High Efficiency Particulate Air filters, are required to fit U.S. Department of Energy guidelines to use the HEPA designation. To fit the standards, a filter must catch most of the particles of 0.3 micrometers or larger, with 0.03 percent as the limit allowed through.
Additionally, these specialty filters must allow an amount of air to pass through the filter, which depends on the size of the filter. The filters are made up of fibers, which can contain different materials such as fiberglass.
Mechanisms of These Filters
HEPA filters are created in a certain way to provide the features expected of them. They catch contaminants with impaction, interception and diffusion mechanisms. Larger particles that come in contact with the filter are captured with impaction because the particles are unable to make it through the fibers – they hit the fibers and stay there.
Interception catches particles when they move around a bit and eventually attach to the fiber once they’re close enough to it. The mechanism that attracts the smallest particles is diffusion, which happens when the dust or other contaminant collides with air particles, causing the small particles to get pushed into the fibers of the filter. Â
Creating Cleaner Air Indoors
HEPA filters are able to greatly cleanse the air indoors because their three-part system can catch dust, mold spores, viruses, bacteria, pollen, dust mites and various other particles floating around. It captures smaller particles than regular filters are capable of catching. You can further catch particles in your flooring, curtains, couches and other areas with a HEPA filter in your vacuum.
These specialty filters help people cut down on air conditions in their homes that would aggravate breathing problems and allergies. Use this kind of filter in your air purification system to create cleaner indoor air for your health Allergens