Hey, If you’re reading this, you’re looking for a HEPA filter that works for you. But let’s be honest: There are a lot of HEPA filters out there, and it can be hard to know which one to get. Don’t worry. You’re in the right place.
When I talk to people, I find out that a lot of people don’t know what kind of HEPA filter to get. I know a lot about HEPA filters because I’ve been making them for a long time. I wrote this list of the top 10 things you need to think about when you’re buying a HEPA filter. After you read this, you’ll know everything you need to know about HEPA filters.
You might be wondering, “Why are HEPA filters such a big deal?” Well, I’ll tell you. These little things aren’t just a bunch of fibers. They’re a really important barrier that keeps stuff like dust, pollen, and germs out of the air in your place. They make the air inside your house better. If you work in a place where the air has to be really clean, like a factory where they make computer chips or medicine or really fancy cameras, you have to have really good air filters.
A HEPA filter is made to catch stuff that’s as small as 0.3 microns. That’s about 300 times smaller than the width of a hair! So, if you work in a clean room, have a pet, or just want to breathe clean air, a HEPA filter can change your life.
So, let’s get started. Here are 10 things you need to think about when you buy a HEPA filter. Each one will help you understand HEPA filters better.
1. Filter Efficiency
The first thing you need to think about when you buy a HEPA filter is how good it is. A real HEPA filter can catch 99.97% of the stuff in the air that’s as small as 0.3 microns. But how do you know if a filter is really a HEPA filter? You have to test it. There are two ways to test a HEPA filter: the MPPS test and the PAO test. Both tests will tell you if a filter is really a HEPA filter.
There’s a new thing people are saying now. They’re saying “TRUE HEPA filter.” That’s just another way of saying a filter that’s really a HEPA filter.
EN1822 Standard
When you buy HEPA filters, you should know EN1822. Europe uses a thing called the EN1822 standard for HEPA filters. According to that standard, a filter that’s called H13 or H14 is a real HEPA filter. An H13 filter can catch 99.97% of the stuff that’s as small as 0.3 microns. An H14 filter can catch 99.997% of the stuff that’s as small as 0.3 microns. The EN1822 standard is really strict. It says that every single filter has to be tested to make sure it’s a real HEPA filter.
MERV Ratings
In the United States, they use a thing called the MERV rating system. That’s short for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. It’s made by a group called ASHRAE. MERV ratings are used for all kinds of air filters, but HEPA filters usually get a MERV rating of 17 to 20. Just so you know, a MERV-17 filter is the same as an H13 filter under the EN1822 standard. A MERV-18 filter is the same as an H14 filter.
Comparative Analysis
Different areas have different ways of talking. Whether you’re talking about EN1822 or MERV, as long as you know what the corresponding filtration efficiency is, you know what level of filtration it is.
2. Filter Size and Dimensions
Alright, Let’s talk about size. Size matters when it comes to HEPA filters. Imagine you spend a bunch of time looking for the perfect HEPA filter, and then you find out it doesn’t fit your air purifier. That’s a bummer.
So many people don’t know how to measure a HEPA filter right, and all the different things you read online can be confusing: nominal size, actual size, filter media size, etc.
So, let’s make sure this doesn’t happen to you.
Measure Twice, Buy Once
Based on my experience with different air filter manufacturers or factories, I’ll tell you that they measure HEPA filters differently. For example, some use length x width x height.
However, most mainstream manufacturers agree to use width x height x depth(WxHxD) to express the size of the filter. So, how do we determine the width, height, and depth? Take a box-type HEPA filter as an example: the side perpendicular to the pleats of the filter material is called the width, the side parallel to the pleats of the filter material is called the height, and the last remaining part is the depth, sometimes also It’s called thickness.
Another point is that when we measure the size of the filter, we only need to measure the size of the outer frame. This represents the full size of a high-efficiency filter.
Common HEPA filter sizes are 24’x24’x12′, 48’x24’x12′, 480x480x70mm, 24’x24’x3.8′, 48’x24’x3.8′, and so on. Of course, this is used in the industrial field.
In the household range, for example, there are many HEPA filter sizes in air purifiers, such as 456x365x45mm, 520x250x95mm, 334x235x69mm, 334x235x69mm, 149x120x26mm, etc.
The Skinny on Thickness
Regarding the thickness of the HEPA filter, I think it is related to the airflow in your filtration system. Generally speaking, the corresponding HEPA filter thickness should be thicker if the airflow is large.
For example, if the airflow is 800-2000CFM, the thickness can be 70-90mm. If the airflow is large, such as 3400CFM, the thickness can be 292mm. This is because thicker air filters have less resistance than thinner ones and won’t blow out under high airflow.
In addition, the greater the thickness, the larger the filtering area and the lower the filter resistance, which can ensure the air permeability of the ventilation system and reduce energy consumption.
The airflow of a household air purifier is only 1/10 of the airflow of an industrial filtration system, so the thickness of the HEPA filter it uses is relatively thin, usually around 15-30mm. Sometimes, there are thicknesses below 10mm.
Compatibility
And don’t forget to make sure the filter is compatible with your HEPA filtration system. Some brands make filters that only fit their models. So, if you’re thinking about mixing and matching, read the product’s specifications first and customize the HEPA filter if you have to.
3. Airflow Capacity
When you choose a HEPA filter, you need to know how much air it can handle. This is called airflow capacity. It’s the amount of air that can move through the filter in a certain amount of time. Usually, this is measured in cubic feet per minute (CFM). The manufacturer will tell you how much air the filter can handle so you can decide if it’s enough.
Determining Required Airflow
Figuring out how much air you need in a clean room is hard. There are a lot of things to think about, like how many times the air changes, how much air the filters let through, how big the air ducts are, and so on.
Also, how you design the airflow affects how much the filter slows the air down and how long the filter lasts. Right now, the way people design ventilation for factories or big buildings is pretty good. You should talk to someone who knows what they’re doing to get the best advice on how to get the air to move.
Impact on Energy Consumption
From what I’ve seen in other industries, if the HEPA filter doesn’t let enough air through, then the ventilation system doesn’t let as much air through, and the filter slows the air down more. When that happens, the air conditioner has to work harder to let more air through, and that makes the power bill go up.
Most new ventilation systems use variable frequency air conditioners, greatly optimizing the air conditioning air supply system and saving energy.
Balance Between Efficiency and Airflow
The thing you have to think about is how much the air filter slows the air down compared to how good it is at taking stuff out of the air. HEPA filters have denser media in them, so they slow the air down more. I suggest you get one with a bigger filter area for the same size and how good it is. That way, you don’t slow the air down, and you still get pollutants out of the air.
4. Filter longevity
When you buy something, you want it to last a long time. The same goes for a HEPA filter. How long it lasts is a big deal because it affects how much it costs and how well it works. How long a filter lasts depends on what they make it out of and how you use it. Knowing how long a filter lasts is important so you can plan and use it right.
Material Composition
The most important part of a filter is the material it’s made out of. You can tell how good the filter is by looking at how good the material is. The material should be good at taking stuff out of the air, not slow the air down too much, last a long time, and not get messed up by heat or water. Besides how much it costs, you can tell how good the filter is by asking what kind of material they use.
Working Conditions
How long a filter lasts depends on how fast the air goes through it, how much water is in the air, and how much stuff is in the air. If there’s a lot of stuff in the air, you might need to change the filter more often. That’s why you have to think about how fast the air goes through the filter and how much stuff is in the air to pick the right filter.
5. Sealing and Leak Prevention
When you pick a HEPA filter, you need to think about how good the seal is. If the seal isn’t good, air can go around the filter instead of going through it. That means the filter doesn’t work as good at getting particles out of the air.
Gasket Material
When you put in a HEPA filter, you should have a strip that seals it up. The strip makes sure that the filter is tight against the thing it goes in. They use stuff like neoprene or silicone for the strip because it stretches and stays tight for a long time. So make sure you ask for a strip when you get a HEPA filter.
Leak Testing
Good HEPA filters get tested to make sure they don’t leak. The test makes sure there aren’t any mistakes in how they made the filter that would make it leak. When you pick a HEPA filter, make sure they tested it so you know it’s good.
6. Comply with environmental or legal regulations
When you pick a HEPA filter, you have to think about the rules and stuff where you’re going to use it. Even though HEPA filters don’t make stuff dirty, you still have to think about how you get rid of them. You have to think about if you can burn them or if they have bad stuff in them when you throw them away.
Sustainable development
Everybody has to help keep the earth clean. When you pick a HEPA filter, you should think about getting one that’s made out of stuff that’s good for the earth. For example, the HEPA filter on the air purifier could be made out of PET, and the cabin air filter in the car could be made without stuff that melts when it gets hot. That way, you don’t make stuff dirty.
7. Frame materials
The HEPA filter has two parts that are important. One part is the media that takes stuff out of the air, and the other part is the frame that holds the media that takes stuff out of the air.
Plastic, Metal, or MDF
These three kinds of materials are common HEPA filter frames.
They use plastic for the frame on small HEPA filters you use in your house, like the filter in your vacuum cleaner or the filter in your air purifier.
In industrial or commercial filtration systems, you’ll often find metal frames like aluminum, galvanized, and stainless steel. These are used because the airflow in these situations is pretty big, so you need a HEPA filter that’s structurally strong. So, you use a metal frame.
MDF (medium density fiberboard) frames aren’t used much anymore. Right now, they’re only used in factories in some parts of Europe. This HEPA filter is used in older ventilation systems.
8. Warranty and Guarantees
When a manufacturer can give you quality assurance and a warranty, they’re basically saying, “We’re really confident in the quality of our product. You can trust it.”
Not every manufacturer or supplier can offer you this kind of service or guarantee. So, when you’re buying a HEPA filter, make sure you ask the manufacturer about their after-sales service and their quality guarantee. That’s how you protect yourself.
9. Manufacturer Reputation and Service
Usually, well-known manufacturers that have been around for a long time are safer than brands you’ve never heard of or brands that aren’t as well-known. But there are also a lot of hidden gems out there. They’re not famous, but their products are just as good as the famous brands, and they’re cheaper.
Technical Support and Customer Service
The availability and quality of technical support and customer service are really important. A manufacturer that gives you good support is worth a lot because they can help you with any problems or questions you have while you’re using the filter.
You can ask the manufacturer about their policies, and that’ll make you feel more confident about your choice.
10. Customization
When the products on the market cannot meet your special needs, or your filtration system is very special and conventional HEPA filters cannot match it, then you should consider customizing HEPA filters.
Only One Point
In my opinion, it’s not hard to get a HEPA filter customized. You just need to find a manufacturer that’s good at customization. You work with them and tell them what you want. Then, it’s just the regular process: making a sample, checking the sample, ordering a small amount, and then working with them for a long time.
Conclusion
Choosing a HEPA filter is not a decision you make lightly. It’s a process that goes from being unfamiliar to being familiar. After you read this article, I think you’ll have a general idea of how to choose a HEPA filter.
Why Choose KOINfilter’s HEPA Filters?
KOINfilter is a reliable manufacturer that makes top-quality HEPA filters that meet and often exceed industry standards.
Key Features:
- High Filter Efficiency: Koinfilter’s HEPA filters are designed to capture particles as small as 0.3 microns with an efficiency rate of 99.97%, so you can be sure you’re getting the best air quality possible.
- Last Long: These filters are made from durable materials that make them last longer, which means you won’t have to replace them as often, and you’ll save money.
- Customization Options: We have different sizes and efficiency ratings available, and we offer customization options so you can get exactly what you need.
- Excellent Customer Support: We have great customer service that is there to help you with technical support and answer any questions you have throughout the life of your filter.
