The real reason why HEPA filters are so costly can be attributed to psychology and marketing. We purchase air purifiers and HEPA filters to safeguard our health, which we value highly. As a result, we are often willing to pay a hefty price for our health's protection. Without an air quality monitor, it is difficult to determine the worth of an air purifier.
Thus, we tend to use price as a factor in deciding that more expensive means better. If you have an uncommonly sized filter area, some online companies offer custom filters for those unique systems. Now that you know the size you need, there are still plenty of options. It is essential to consider all options when examining air filters.
Do you have long-haired cats and dogs that shed their fur? Does anyone in your family suffer from environmental allergies? Generally speaking, more expensive air filters are more effective, but a single person without pets and allergies may not require as much filtration as a family of five with three pets and a child with asthma. If you can find a reusable filter that captures the types of contaminants you need for your family, then you could pay more money upfront but save money in the long run. For instance, hospitals use filters with a rating of 16, but this is not necessary for your home environment, and using a filter with such a high rating will increase your energy costs. An electrostatic air filter is a washable air filter that uses static electricity to capture particles.
The advantage of an electrostatic filter is that it captures smaller particles than a standard washable filter and is completely reusable.