High Efficiency Air Filters

We Live Indoors
For the most part, our lives are spent indoors. Construction practice focused on reducing energy consumption has resulted in tightly sealed structures which are starved for ventilation. Compounding low ventilation rates with smoking, aerosol sprays, pets, and the effluent from carpets, furnishings, and hobby activities may create higher levels of pollution inside your home than you would experience outside.

People with allergies, breathing problems, and the very young and old may have difficulty dealing with these levels of pollution.

Measuring Pollution
Pollutant particles are measured in microns (1/25,000 of an inch).  Particles below about 4 microns in size are not visible to the naked eye....yet 98% of all airborne pollutants within the home are below 1 micron!

The chart below provides a scale of various pollutants.

Standard air filters furnished with the majority of heating/air conditioning systems are designed to protect the equipment.  They may advertise efficiencies of 95% at micron sizes above  5 microns filter out only the larger pollutant particles.  According to the American Lung Association, particles smaller than 5 microns are the cause of many respiratory related illnesses. 

ASHRAE & MERV
The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) has developed standards to rate air filters...MERV  or Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value is an expression of the efficiency of an air filter that has been rated in accord with ASHRAE Standard 52.2 Test Procedure.  A filter's performance is determined by comparing airborne particle counts under standardized conditions before and after the filter, and assigning MERV ratings ranging from 1 to 16.  Higher MERV ratings equate to higher filtration efficiency.

Conventional disposable panel filters rate at between MERV 1 and 4, with arrestance of 70% on particle sizes of over 10 microns.  They are unable to filter out many pollutants which may be harmful to people with allergies or breathing problems.

High Efficiency Filters
Alliance handles several types of filter media.  Two styles which we have found particularly effective are detailed below.

Z-LINE
Z-Line High Efficiency Filter with a MERV rating of 8, and arrestance of of 95% on particle sizes of from 3 to 10 microns may help minimize allergy and breathing problems.

This filter design allows a 4" pleated filter to be installed in many 1" air return grills. The increased square footage of media that this design provides greatly improves pressure drops, efficiency, and service life as compared with standard 1" disposable or pleated filters.

Z-Line Series MR-8 features:

• MERV 8
• Electro statically charged fibers increase initial efficiency
• Low pressure drop
• High dust holding capacity
• Thermally bonded, 100% synthetic fibers
• Media will not support microbial growth
• Ideal upgrade from regular pleats, poly panels, and disposable filters
• Excellent pre-filter or primary filter
• Wide range of standard and special sizes
   

Micro Power Guard
The MicroPower Guard air cleaner uses polarized media technology which generates an active electronic field to charge both airborne particles and the fibers of the disposable carbon-filled media pad.  Polarized particles stick both to the media and each other capturing 97% of airborne particles at 0.30 microns.

The active carbon center of the disposable media pad helps absorb odors and gasses.  Each disposable media pad remains at peak operating efficiency for three to four months before replacement is needed.

Used extensively in commercial air cleaning applications as nursing homes and dentists offices, the MicroPower Guard is a proven commercial technology brought to the residential market.

We welcome the opportunity to discuss your needs for effective air filtration products.

License #ROC243344