Are fiberglass air filters really bad?
Yes, for the most part, fiberglass filters are safe. But they fall short compared to pleated filters when it comes to filtering out the smaller contaminants in your air such as pollen, pet dander, and bacteria.
What kind of air filter is the best?
What is the Best Air Filter for My Home?
- Fiberglass Filters. Made from spun fiberglass and typically blue in color, these filters are one of the most popular types.
- Pleated Air Filters. ...
- Disposable Electrostatic Filters. ...
- Washable Electrostatic Filters. ...
- US Home Filter Carries AC Filters to Fit All HVAC Units. ...
- Order now from US Home Filter and receive FREE SHIPPING on your order! ...
Are gp5 filters safe?
No GP-5 filter is safe. Canisters manufactured in the late 80s have tested positive for asbestos, and there’s no safe level of exposure to asbestos. How long can you breathe in a gas mask? The gas mask only protects the user from digesting, inhaling and contact through the eyes (many agents affect through eye contact).
Do HEPA filters really work?
HEPA works well and is effective at removing large enough particulate matter like pet dander, pollen, and dust mites. Other particulates can be caught but continue to cause concern on the filter which we’ll explain in the next section. Where HEPA air filters fail HEPA filter drawbacks
Is it OK to use fiberglass furnace filter?
Are fiberglass air filters safe? Yes, for the most part, fiberglass filters are safe. But they fall short compared to pleated filters when it comes to filtering out the smaller contaminants in your air such as pollen, pet dander, and bacteria.
What happened to fiberglass air filters?
You see, the fiberglass air filter hasn't changed much over the years. The pleated air filter and the HVAC system have though, and their innovations have shattered the seamlessness of the efficiency/airflow spectrum and rendered fiberglass air filters essentially obsolete.
What are fiberglass filters used for?
These are the most common filters used in residential furnace and air conditioning systems. They are low cost. Their purpose is to protect the system from debris that might damage components of the air systems such as fans, motors, cooling coils, and heat exchangers.
Do fiberglass air filters have a MERV rating?
On a 1-20 MERV rating scale, fiberglass air filters typically have a rating of 2-3. Fiberglass filters need to be replaced more often. Their surface area is small and cannot hold as many particles as pleated filters and need to be replaced every month.
Are fiberglass HEPA filters safe?
HEPA filters have caused controversy over concerns that they might shed tiny fibers and be harmful to health. But the latest scientific studies have shown HEPA filters are safe and found no evidence of harm.
Is fiberglass dust a carcinogen?
People who work with fiberglass or who have worn-out duct work lined with fiberglass in their homes or workplace may have long-term exposure to fiberglass. There is no evidence that fiberglass causes cancer in people.
How often should fiberglass filters be changed?
every 30 daysFiberglass air filters are a low cost, disposable solution but need to be changed every 30 days or less. Pleated air filters are also disposable but typically have better efficiency than fiberglass and can last longer. Replace within 90 days depending on the season.
How long do fiberglass filters last?
Must be changed every 30 days., Unlike many advanced filters that can last 3 months or more, fiberglass filters are only designed to last for 30 days at a time. After 30 days, they lose effectiveness and need to be replaced.
How often should you change fiberglass air filter?
every 30 daysIt is a general recommendation that you should change your air filter in your home every 30 days when using less expensive fiberglass filters. High-end pleated filters can last as long as 6 months, but these typical guidelines assume average use and don't take into account the size and type of filter.
Why are fiberglass air filters so expensive?
2. Expensive Filters Are Made of Better-Quality Materials. Expensive air filters are made of better-quality materials than cheap air filters. They are often made of fiberglass, which is a porous material that can trap more dust and pollen than other materials like cardboard or paper.
What material filters air the best?
Activated carbon is considered one of the safest, most reliable air filter materials available today.
What MERV are in fiberglass?
1–4 MERVFiberglass and washable filters are typically 1–4 MERV, and can filter out particles of 10 microns and larger. According to the Standard 52.2 application guidelines, particles in this size range include pollen, dust mites, mold spores, hair spray, powdered milk, and, of course, snuff.
Do air filters contain fiberglass?
Furnace air filters protect the furnace mechanisms from getting dirty and also remove particles from the air you breathe. Filters are made of different materials including fiberglass, polyester, and cotton.
How often should fiberglass filters be changed?
every 30 daysFiberglass air filters are a low cost, disposable solution but need to be changed every 30 days or less. Pleated air filters are also disposable but typically have better efficiency than fiberglass and can last longer. Replace within 90 days depending on the season.
How often should you change fiberglass air filter?
every 30 daysIt is a general recommendation that you should change your air filter in your home every 30 days when using less expensive fiberglass filters. High-end pleated filters can last as long as 6 months, but these typical guidelines assume average use and don't take into account the size and type of filter.
What material filters air the best?
Activated carbon is considered one of the safest, most reliable air filter materials available today.
What are the alternatives to fiberglass insulation?
This includes soy-based materials such as foam, wool, hemp, and recycled denim. Although these niche products only account for a small fraction of demand in the 9.5 billion dollar US insulation industry, their use is expected to rise.
How many micrometers are fiberglass fibers?
Stanton’s study revealed that fiberglass fibers less than three micrometers in diameter and greater than 20 micrometers in length acted as carcinogens in rats, leading him to conclude that similar effects would probably be seen in humans.
What is fiberglass insulation?
Fiberglass is a plastic substance made of small glass particles extruded into thin strands of material that reinforce polymer products or insulate them. Fiberglass, invented in 1938 by Russell Games Slayter for Owens-Corning, is the typical referent when the generic term “fiberglass” is used, and it is well known across America as the pink, fluffy material resembling cotton candy that is used as insulation in 90 percent of buildings in the country. As health concerns rose about asbestos throughout the 20th century, leading to its general banning and phasing out as insulation in many countries worldwide, fiberglass production steadily increased and its use replaced asbestos in many applications. Asbestos concerns centered around the particulate air contamination it led to, which caused lung diseases like asbestosis, lung cancer, and others. However, now, with higher amounts of fiberglass insulation nationwide, there have also been higher concerns about its possible health hazards.
How wide is asbestos?
Asbestos is capable of depositing respirable fibers into the air, with some particles as small as 0.01 micrometers wide (compare to typical human hair width at 17 to 181 micrometers wide).
What is fiberglass made of?
What is fiberglass made of? Fiberglass is a synthetic material. It consists of a plastic matrix that is most often made of a thermosetting polymer such as epoxy, polyester resin, vinylester , or a thermoplastic. This matrix is reinforced with glass fibers. The primary material of the fibers is silica, a type of silicon oxide polymer that does not have a melting point and has long been used for its hardness properties. Silica is commonly found in sand or quartz and is used to create many types of glass, including window glass, drinking glasses, and optical fibers. There are various types of fiberglass, distinguished by their chemical makeup, including:
What is Group 2B glass?
They did retain their classification for continuous glass filaments used for composite reinforcement purposes and the Group 2B “possible carcinogen” classification for certain special-purpose glass fibers. However, these fibers are not used for insulation purposes.
What is the primary material of glass fibers?
The primary material of the fibers is silica, a type of silicon oxide polymer that does not have a melting point and has long been used for its hardness properties. Silica is commonly found in sand or quartz and is used to create many types of glass, including window glass, drinking glasses, and optical fibers.
How does fiberglass affect the tissue response?
Because fiberglass breaks across the fiber to form tiny fragments, the tissue response is very different when these particles are inhaled. When fiberglass fragments are inhaled and deposited in the small air sacs of the lung, the alveoli do not close up and trap the particles. The particles are expelled from the alveoli and there is a rapid clearance of fiberglass dust particles from the lungs.
What happens when asbestos fibers break?
As they break, they form tiny fragments that no longer have the properties of a fiber. Asbestos fibers, on the other hand, are always present as bundles, never as a single fiber. Asbestos fibers fracture only lengthwise when the bundles break apart, releasing thousands of long tiny fibers.
How to protect yourself from fiberglass?
To protect yourself, wear long sleeve shirts and pants to keep the fibers off your skin, and wear clean clothes every day. Gloves and eye protection may also help. Use soap and warm water to remove any fibers that you do get on your skin. Dust is produced when mat or cloth is rolled out, where chopper guns are used, and in finishing operations where flashing is removed or sanding occurs. So always wear a dust mask in these areas to help avoid inhaling glass fibers.
What is the difference between asbestos and glass fiber?
The principal difference between glass fibers and asbestos fibers is their size and the way the fibers break down. Glass fibers are cylindrical single fibers that can never split lengthwise; they only break across the fiber. As they break, they form tiny fragments that no longer have the properties of a fiber.
What are the hazards of fiberglass?
The primary hazard associated with fiberglass is the chemicals used during the fabrication or lay up process. Styrene monomer, or raw resin, is catalyzed with an organic peroxide; the most common is methyl ethyl ketone peroxide. Cobalt compounds, often used as accelerators, can result in allergic dermatitis or asthma-like conditions. Acetone is a central nervous system depressant used for clean up of tools, utensils, and spray equipment. The important thing to remember about these chemicals is that they are health hazards when inhaled; proper respiratory equipment must be worn and adequate ventilation provided. You should also be aware that these chemicals can form flammable or explosive concentrations at normal room temperatures, so proper handling and ventilation is essential.
Why is fiberglass not a nuisance?
The conclusion is that it will not because its properties are very different from asbestos. OSHA confirmed these findings in 1991 when it decided to regulate fiberglass as a nuisance dust, and not as a cancer-causing agent.
What is acetone used for?
Acetone is a central nervous system depressant used for clean up of tools, utensils, and spray equipment. The important thing to remember about these chemicals is that they are health hazards when inhaled; proper respiratory equipment must be worn and adequate ventilation provided.
How hard is it to detect fiberglass fiber?
These ultra-small fiberglass fiber fragments or particles (such as shown in our photo at left, magnified approximately 2000x) are very hard to detect in the laboratory unless the lab is specifically looking for them.
What is the second source of fiberglass particles in buildings?
A second source of fiberglass particles in buildings is from damaged fiberglass-lined HVAC ductwork, such as ducts that use an internal fiberglass liner that was damaged by an inept attempt at mechanical cleaning.
Where does fiberglass come from?
In fact most fiberglass that we find in building air and dust seems to originate in building insulation, especially where there is traffic or air movement in and out of areas where fiberglass insulation is exposed, and more so if that insulation is mechanically damaged such as by being walked-on.
What are the dark blobs on the right of the photo?
Those dark blobs on the small-diameter vertical fiberglass fiber at the right of our photo are resin . The larger diameter fiberglass fibers in the left of the photo do not happen to carry resin .
How many microns are filter fibers?
Laboratory examination of a filter sample sent by the client to an independent microscopy laboratory found that the filter fibers were 31 microns in diameter, and had a blue coating on them [probably the binder, and not the fragments shown in our photos here.].
What increases the effective fiber diameter?
The binder coating increases the effective fiber diameter.
What is the purpose of air filter?
Any air filter, properly selected and installed and maintained, will be expected to reduce the overall level of airborne particles, including fiberglass fragments which are contributed to the building air and dust from other building sources.
How many micrograms of HEPA are in the air?
The World Health Organization sets a PM2.5 annual limit of 10 micrograms per meter cubed. Using a simple formula, that’s equivalent to 25,225 PM2.5 particles per meter cubed, or 35 times what the filters were shedding.
How long did they blow clean air at each filter?
In the lab, they blew clean air at each filter for 6 hours. While they did that, they captured and measured the number of fibers breaking off the filter and traveling downstream.
Does a HEPA filter shed more fibers than a synthetic filter?
Even for new HEPA filters, the number of fibers shedded are less than one thousandth the occupational limit. Data shows that glass fiber filters can shed more fibers than synthetic filters, while the number of particles shed by both types of filter is very small, Smart Air chooses to use synthetic fibers to lower the risk.
Do hepa filters shed fibers?
OK, so HEPA filters only shed a small number of fibers. But to prove HEPAs are safe, we need to ensure these fibers are not really harmful to our bodies in the case we do breathe them in.
Can a HEPA filter cause cancer?
There’s a controversy over whether fiberglass particles can cause lung disease and cause cancer. Some people are worried that fibers in HEPA filters will break off, enter the air, and enter people’s lungs.
Is a hepa filter harmful?
Are Fibers From HEPA Filters Harmful to Health? HEPA filters have caused controversy over concerns that they might shed tiny fibers and be harmful to health. But the latest scientific studies have shown HEP A filters are safe and found no evidence of harm.
Can niosh cause irritation?
NIOSH suggests that people may experience irritation to the eyes, skin, nose, throat or difficult breathing. Here’s how that compares to the number of fibers shed from the HEPA filters in the study above.
Do fiberglass filters get better airflow?
Creating a filter like this has been a challenging task because generally speaking, the more efficient a filter is at actual filtration, the worse its airflow is.
Why does my tech recommend fiberglass then?
Despite all of this, many HVAC technicians still recommend fiberglass filters for airflow reasons. Why is that?
Are pleated filters that much more efficient?
This is a role in which the pleated air filter succeeds and the fiberglass air filter fails with a capital F.
What happens when particles pass through a fiberglass air filter?
When particles pass through your fiberglass air filter and enter your system, one of two things happens. A decent amount of those pollutants cycle back through the system into your home so that you breathe them in. The rest can attach to the refrigerant coils. This is extremely bad.
What is a Pleated filter?
Pleated filters, especially those of a higher MERV rating, are effective against even the smallest particles. A MERV 13 Catch All filter from Second Nature will catch at least 50% of particles from 0.3-1 microns in diameter. This includes tiny little things such as pet dander and iddy-biddy smoke particles. Fiberglass filters are so efficient with particles this small that their percentage is pretty close to zero.
How much does a fiberglass filter cost?
Most fiberglass filters are around one or two dollars. Pleated are more like 12 dollars, which according to basic subtraction, is more than two. The first caveat here is that fiberglass is only rated to last one month, while pleated filters are typically rated to last three times that long. So while they’re still cheaper, they’re not as much cheaper as you’d think with a one-to-one comparison.
What is the most common type of air filter?
The two most common types of air filters are fiberglass air filters and pleated air filters and they couldn’t really be more different as far as home air filters go.
Comparing fibers shed from HEPA filters with everyday air
Seven hundred fibers sounds like a lot, but let’s compare it to something we know more about: PM2.5. HEPA fiber particles are in the size of range of PM2.5, and PM2.5 is in the air we breathe every day.
Research showing fibers unlikely to cause irreversible damage
Many researchers have studied the health impacts of fiberglass on the body, yet there’s still no agreement on whether fibers are harmful or not. One study by the American College of Chest Physicians looked at the effect of fibers on the lungs of animals and humans.
Research showing elevated risk of respiratory cancer due to fibers
Despite this, other reports [1, 2] have found some evidence of the harm from fibers. One study analyzed 32,110 workers in the US. They looked at the effects of fiberglass over a long period of time (more than 30 years).
The NIOSH exposure limit for fibers
Despite the harms of small fibers on the body, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in the US recommends a fiber count of no more than 3 fibers/cm3, averaged over a 10-hour work shift. NIOSH suggests that people may experience irritation to the eyes, skin, nose, throat or difficult breathing.
Bottom Line: are HEPA filters safe?
HEPA filters shed very few fibers over their lifetime, with the highest rate of shedding when they’re new. Although some studies have linked fiberglass to cancer, a summary of research suggests that the fibers are no more harmful than other dust in the air.
