| I want to discuss the main types of furnace | | | | used by the Sharper Image Ionic Breeze and the |
| filters. As with many, many other things in life, | | | | Oreck XL Air Purifier, these filters carry a static |
| there are positives and negatives inherent with | | | | electric charge, and claims to deal with bad |
| each type of air filter technology. You must | | | | particles from the standpoint of physics, electricity |
| assess what your needs and values are, and | | | | to be exact. Although they are not powered up |
| apply them to the information out there to make | | | | or shockingly dangerous in any way, they claim to |
| the best decision possible. For example, if you are | | | | attract oppositely-charged particles to the charged |
| allergic to pollen, and you live in a high pollen count | | | | filter body, thereby cleaning your air better. |
| area, you have a pretty strong value for air filters | | | | Pleated furnace filters |
| that can clear the air of allergy-inducing particles. | | | | Strictly speaking, pleated is another aspect of a |
| Regular furnace filters | | | | furnace filters perpendicular to its "type," meaning |
| These are the most common filters out there. | | | | the material used. Pleated refers to the |
| They are easy to find. They are convenient. They | | | | accordion-like folds in the filter body that makes it |
| are in most Target type stores and Home Depot | | | | look like a zigzag. This increases the total surface |
| type stores. They even appear in supermarkets | | | | area of the filter, thereby allowing a higher volume |
| often. They are disposable. However, in almost | | | | of air to pass through than a flat filter. |
| every aspect of filtration quality, they have less | | | | HEPA |
| to brag about than other technologies. | | | | HEPA is a heavy-duty kind of furnace filters. |
| Activated Carbon Furnace Filters | | | | Although the technology is sound, they have their |
| This has an extra layer inside, usually of the color | | | | drawbacks, too. |
| black. Just the color you would expect carbon to | | | | Ok, so I cannot be sure if I have covered every |
| be, right? It has claims of cleansing the air of | | | | type of furnace filter, like the title of this article |
| trace amounts of certain types of chemicals in | | | | claims. Maybe they invented a new kind in Tibet |
| the air, so if your area is known for having | | | | that has not made the rounds in the Western |
| poisonous or toxic chemicals in its air, this type of | | | | world yet. But at least here in the United States, |
| filter is definitely worth checking out. | | | | we've touched upon all the technologies that will |
| Electrostatic Furnace Filters | | | | filter all the undesirables from the air in your |
| Borrowing from the same family of technology | | | | house or business. |