Intovent Shares Tips for Choosing Home Air Filters

Modern lifestyles keep people indoors for approximately 90% of their time, yet indoor air quality often proves worse than outdoor environments. Pollutants including particulate matter, pollen, bacteria, viruses, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) accumulate in enclosed spaces, posing significant health risks ranging from respiratory conditions to cardiovascular diseases.

Ventilation system filters serve as the primary defense against airborne contaminants, with their efficiency determining the system's overall performance. These components operate through four mechanical processes:

• Mechanical interception: Physical barrier filtration
• Electrostatic attraction: Charge-based particle capture
• Inertial impaction: Particle deposition via momentum
• Diffusion: Brownian motion particle capture

Five primary filter types address different air quality requirements:

1. Coarse filters (G3-G4): Capture large particulates (dust, insects)
2. Medium-efficiency filters (M5-M6): Remove pollen and mold spores
3. High-efficiency filters (F7-H14): Eliminate PM2.5 and microorganisms
4. Activated carbon filters: Adsorb VOCs and odors
5. Photocatalytic filters: Decompose pollutants through oxidation

Two international standards govern filter classification:

• EN779: Measures average efficiency against specific particle sizes
• ISO 16890: Evaluates PM1, PM2.5, and PM10 capture rates

Filter grades demonstrate varying capabilities:

• G4 coarse filters: >90% efficiency for 5μm particles
• M6 medium filters: >60% efficiency for 0.4μm particles
• F9 high-efficiency filters: >95% efficiency for 0.3μm particles
• HEPA filters (H13): >99.97% efficiency for 0.3μm particles

Five critical considerations guide filter selection:

1. Local air pollution levels
2. Occupant health requirements
3. System compatibility
4. Maintenance frequency
5. Budget constraints

• Standard residences: M5-M6 filters
• Allergy sufferers: F7 with anti-allergen coatings
• New construction: Activated carbon combinations
• Medical facilities: HEPA with photocatalytic elements

Typical service life varies by filter type:

• Coarse filters: 1-3 months
• Medium filters: 3-6 months
• High-efficiency filters: 6-12 months

Three methods identify filter exhaustion:

1. Visual particulate accumulation
2. Reduced airflow velocity
3. Increased particulate readings

Four technological advancements are shaping future developments:

• Smart monitoring: Real-time efficiency tracking
• Nanofiber media: Enhanced particle capture
• Reusable designs: Sustainable alternatives
• Multifunctional integration: Combined purification approaches