Reusable Air Filters sound like a good idea, since replacement costs can really add up over the course of time. The problem is that reusable air filters do not do as efficient job as desired. To begin, reusable air filters are messy when removed from the HVAC system. Then there is the problem of finding a suitable area to clean the filters. Very often, highly toxic cleaners are required for adequate cleaning of reusable air conditioning air filters. Once the chemical is used on the filter, it is absorbed into the filter and therefore a certain amount of the cleaner can be released back into the circulating air posing a potential health threat. Nordic does not endorse this type of filter and does not sell reusable filters.
Disposable Panel Air Filters are the most common type of air filters used in furnaces, air conditioning systems or HVAC systems. Panel air filters, being disposable, solve the problems associated with handling dirty filters while insuring ease of removal/replacement. Disposable panel air filters use a variety of media for filtration. A “panel” air filter gets its name because the air filter is actually manufactured as a self-contained, one-piece “panel” that consists of the (a.) air filter media material (b.) any internal structure that supports the air filter media material such as metal fabric, wire or even cardboard, and (c.) the box or frame in which the air filter media material and the media support material is attached to and housed within. The box or frame of a Disposable Panel Air Filter is rigid. The frame is normally constructed of cardboard, plastic or even metal and made to withstand the insertion of the filter into the HVAC system and keep its structural integrity while the HVAC system is operating. The frame is defined by the length, width and thickness of the box housing the filter media.
The most commonly used type of air conditioning air filters on the market today are panel air filters that use fiberglass as the filter media. Fiberglass filters are very cheap and do an effective job at removing only the largest of airborne particulates. In addition to it’s limited ability to filter finer particulate, fiberglass is very brittle and can cause harm when handled. Further, there is a potential for the fiberglass fibers to break off and enter passing air creating a serious health problem. Nordic does not endorse the use of fiberglass filters, both because of their limited ability to filter the air, especially smaller particulate and the health implications.
Pleated Air Filters are much like Disposable Panel Air Filters in that the filter media is housed in a rigid panel but the difference is that the media material used to filter the air, as well as the way the material is mounted into the air filter box or frame is different. The filter media used in pleated filters most often resembles fabric and has the capability of removing significantly smaller particulate from the air. Further, when the filter media is integrated into the filter, it is pleated to provide more surface area for filtration. This pleating adds more than double the surface area of un-pleated filters. The net effect is that you end up with a filter that removes more of the particulate in the passing air AND has at least twice as much surface area. Combined, pleated air filters provide a significantly higher level of filtration.
Electrostatic Pleated Air Filters are a more highly evolved version of the pleated air filter. In addition to a higher quality media filter material and pleats for increased surface area for filtration, Electrostatic Pleated Air Conditioning Air Filters are also electrostatic meaning that the filter media material is electrically charged so that the media material acts much like a magnet to draw more particulate into the media filter material for more efficient filtration. Another benefit of the electrostatic material is that it does not permit the growth of bacteria, often a problem with other filters. Nordic manufactures and sells only Electrostatic Pleated Air Filters in a wide variety of lengths and widths with thickness from 1” to 5”.
Make-Your-Own Air Filters were designed to let you to build your own filters. Consumers of these types of media filters usually do so because their HVAC system does not accommodate standard sized air filters. The most common media for filtration is fiberglass. The handling of fiberglass is difficult as fibers from fiberglass can break off in the skin causing discomfort. Further, fiberglass provides only marginal filter effectiveness. Too, the Make-Your-Own-Filters often have no frames to use in securing the media material. As a consequence, the filters can often collapse necessitating a service call by an air conditioning professional. Nordic does not endorse the use of this type of filters. Our many years of manufacturing expertise has enabled us to manufacture a custom filter at about the same price as off-the-shelf air filters from competitors. The most significant difference is that the media material is much higher in quality and has a frame around the material and the media is attached to the frame with a support material insuring there are no collapsed filters.
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