Electrostatic air filters are a great choice for those who want a one-time investment that can be reused and washed. They come with a Minimum Efficiency Value (MERV) rating, which indicates their effectiveness. Nordic Pure filters are an excellent option, but if you're looking for something more readily available, Honeywell FPR 9 filters and Filtrete MPR 1500 filters are widely available in retail stores. Combining regular filter changes with yearly preventive maintenance for your air conditioner is the best way to get the most out of your system.
Electrostatic filters are great for capturing smaller particles, but they require more power than the typical home air conditioner or oven can provide. They are usually installed in wall-mounted ventilation grilles or in the air controller, near the oven. It's not recommended to operate the air conditioning system without a filter while the electrostatic filter is drying. The decision to pay more for a better filter or not depends on how important cleaner air is to you. Recent advances in air filters allow for high MERV ratings (11 to 1) with a low pressure drop, so you can get great filtration without sacrificing power.
The particle is trapped before releasing its charge as the air passes through the next layers of the filter. When it comes to MERV ratings from 1 to 16, which are the most common filters sold in retail stores, they range from filters that can catch large particles to those that can catch just about anything. If your city's outdoor air quality is poor, you'll want to buy filters with a larger surface area and a higher MERV rating to capture more pollutants. Pleated air filters offer an even higher level of filtration than standard filters supplied by the manufacturer, and what you do in your home can influence indoor air quality even more than outdoor air quality.