If you suffer from allergies or asthma, you know how important it is to maintain your home's indoor air quality. When the pollen count's high, your home may be the only place where you can find solace from the itchy eyes or constant sneezing triggered by the outdoors. There are many types of air filters available, but if you want the top of the line, there's HEPA filtration.

HEPA stands for high efficiency particulate air and is synonymous with the highest standards in air filtration. These filters are used primarily in hospitals and commercial settings because they're highly effective at trapping the smallest particles. HEPA filtration will snag airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns, including viruses, with 99.9 percent efficiency.

Unlike traditional filters that only trap particles larger than the size of the pores in their filtration material, HEPA filters use multiple methods for ensnaring tiny particles that pass through their fibers. The effectiveness of HEPA filtration relies on the combination of these three methods:

• Interception - Particles larger than 0.4 microns are grabbed by one of the fibers in the filter.
• Impaction - Particles larger than 0.4 microns come into direct contact with one of the fibers in the filter, similar to the way a traditional filter works.
• Diffusion - The crisscross arrangement of the fibers in the HEPA filters cause particles smaller than 0.3 microns to float around in the filter, like a plastic bag in the wind, until they're either intercepted or impact with a fiber in the filter.

Professional installation is necessary for HEPA filtration in residential units. These filters are so effective that they can actually decrease the airflow through your system significantly, which will increase the work load on the motor. Over time, the stress could cause increased likelihood of mechanical failure or shorten the life span of your HVAC unit. 

For more information about HEPA filtration and whether it's right for your home, contact the pros at Tri-County Heating & Cooling. We've been providing indoor air quality solutions to the West Chester area of Ohio for over 40 years. Let us answer any questions you might have, and find the best air filtration solution for you needs.

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