Between wildfire smoke, spring pollen, old drafty homes, and pets, a lot of Bay Area homeowners are wondering:

“Should I stick with a regular filter, or upgrade to an electronic air cleaner?”

You’ll see big claims like:

• “Removes 99% of particles!”
• “Hospital-grade air!”
• “Never buy filters again!”

Some of it is legit. Some of it is… marketing.

This guide from Galaxy Heating & Air Conditioning breaks down how electronic air cleaners compare to regular filters, what actually matters in Bay Area homes, and how to decide what’s worth your money.

📍 Serving Contra Costa, Alameda & San Francisco counties
📞 Want help choosing the right filtration setup? Call or text (925) 578-3293.

First: What Are “Regular Filters” vs Electronic Air Cleaners?

Regular Filters (Mechanical / Media Filters)

These are the filters you’re used to:

• The 1″ filters at return grilles or in a slot at the furnace
• Or the thicker 4–5″ media filters in a cabinet by the furnace/air handler

They work by physically trapping particles as air passes through.

You’ll see them rated by MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value), which tells you how small a particle they can capture.

Electronic Air Cleaners (EACs)

“Electronic air cleaner” is an umbrella term for devices that use electric charge to remove particles from the air. Common types:

1. Electrostatic precipitators / electronic filters
   Often installed in the duct system in place of a regular filter
   Air passes through charged plates or wires; particles get charged and collected on plates
2. Ionizers / electronic air purifiers
   Release charged ions into the air
   Charged particles clump together or stick to surfaces/collector plates

Some whole-home electronic units are duct-mounted, others are standalone.

Important note: some older or cheap ionizing/“purifier” devices can produce ozone, which is something we don’t want in your home’s air. Quality systems are designed to keep ozone to very low or negligible levels, but it’s still something to be aware of when shopping.

How Each Option Actually Works in Real Life

Mechanical / Media Filters – Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Simple and reliable – no electronics to fail
• Easy for homeowners to understand: put filter in, replace when dirty
• No intentional ozone generation
• With the right setup (like a 4–5″ media cabinet), you can get excellent filtration (MERV 11–13) without killing airflow
• Works whether the blower is ECM/variable-speed or older style

Cons:

• You must remember to replace them
• Higher-MERV 1″ filters can be too restrictive for some older duct systems
• For people with serious allergies/asthma or heavy smoke exposure, a filter alone may not be enough

Electronic Air Cleaners – Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Can capture very fine particles, including some smaller than what typical residential filters are rated for
• Some systems have washable collector plates, so you buy fewer (or no) disposable filters
• Can reduce buildup on internal components if maintained properly
• Certain designs work well paired with a decent pre-filter

Cons:

• They only work well if kept clean – dirty plates = useless (this is where a lot of systems fail in real homes)
• More complex and expensive to install and repair
• Some older/cheap ionizers can generate ozone, which is a lung irritant
• Performance claims on the box assume perfect maintenance, which almost never happens
• Many still require a pre-filter, so you’re not necessarily done with filter changes

Bay Area Reality Check: What Are You Actually Trying to Solve?

Most homeowners we talk to want help with:

• Wildfire smoke days
• Dust and pet dander
• Seasonal allergies and pollen
• General “my house feels dusty / my throat is scratchy”

Electronic air cleaners can help with these — but so can a properly set up mechanical filter, often more cost-effectively and with less fuss.

Before jumping to electronics, we usually ask:

1. How bad are your symptoms really?
2. What does your current ductwork and system look like?
3. Are you realistically going to wash plates every month or two?
4. Would a high-quality media filter + possibly a couple of portable HEPA units in key rooms do the job?

Very often, the answer is: yes, a better filter setup alone is enough.

Electronic Air Cleaners vs Regular Filters: Head-to-Head

1. Filtration Performance

• A good MERV 11–13 media filter captures a lot of the particles most Bay Area homeowners care about:
  • Pollen
  • Dust
  • Pet dander
  • A good chunk of smoke-sized particles
• A properly maintained electronic air cleaner can go after even smaller particles, and in lab conditions may beat mechanical filters on certain tests.

Reality check: if the electronic system isn’t cleaned regularly, its real-world performance can drop way below what a decent media filter would give consistently.

2. Airflow and System Health

• Regular 1″ high-MERV filters can be rough on airflow if the ducts are marginal.
• Properly sized 4–5″ media filters are usually gentle on airflow, even at higher MERV ratings.
• Many electronic air cleaners also add some restriction and must be carefully sized and installed.
• If they get dirty and no one cleans them → even more airflow resistance.

From a system longevity standpoint, a well-chosen media filter is often the safer, more predictable option.

3. Maintenance & “Real Life”

Mechanical / Media Filters:

• Replace every:
  • 1–2 months for most 1″ filters
  • 6–12 months for 4–5″ media filters (depending on home conditions)
• Easy to see when they’re dirty. Easy to replace.

Electronic Air Cleaners:

• Must be shut off, disassembled, and washed periodically – often every 1–3 months
• If that doesn’t happen, collection plates foul, and efficiency plummets
• Sometimes people forget they even have an EAC until it’s basically a dusty sculpture in the duct

If you know you’re not going to stay on top of washing the thing… a simpler media filter is usually the better choice.

4. Ozone Concerns

Most standard mechanical filters:

• Do not generate ozone at all.

Some ionizers/ozone-based purifiers:

• Intentionally or unintentionally generate ozone, which in higher levels is not great for lungs, especially for kids, older adults, or people with respiratory issues.

Modern, reputable whole-home electronic air cleaners are usually designed with ozone limits in mind, but the market is crowded and not all devices are equal.

Our general stance:

• For most Bay Area homes, we lean toward high-quality mechanical filtration first.
• If adding anything electronic, we prefer well-documented, ozone-conscious systems from manufacturers we trust.

5. Cost & Value

Up-front cost:

• Media filter cabinet + install:
  • Moderate one-time cost, then affordable replacements 1–2x/year
• Electronic air cleaner (whole-home, quality brand) + install:
  • Typically higher upfront cost
  • Ongoing time cost for washing/maintenance
  • Sometimes need occasional part replacements (cells, power supply, etc.)

Lifetime value depends on:

• Whether you actually maintain the electronic system
• How sensitive your household is to fine particulates
• Whether you’d be better served by a media filter + a couple of HEPA room units instead

So… Which Is Better for Bay Area Homes?

Best Starting Point for Most Homes

For the majority of Bay Area homeowners, the best bang-for-buck setup is usually:

• A properly sized 4–5″ media filter cabinet
• With a MERV 11–13 media filter
• Plus:
  • Good duct sealing and airflow
  • A couple of portable HEPA units in bedrooms or high-use rooms if needed

This hits a sweet spot of:

• Strong filtration
• Good airflow
• Reasonable cost
• Low hassle (change 1–2 times per year)

When an Electronic Air Cleaner Might Make Sense

An electronic air cleaner can be a good fit if:

• Someone in the home has significant respiratory issues and you’re layering multiple strategies
• You’re very motivated to manage air quality and willing to keep up with the cleaning
• The system is designed and installed properly with airflow and ozone in mind
• You’re okay with the higher upfront and occasional repair cost

In those cases, we still usually combine it with:

• A pre-filter (mechanical) for larger particles
• Possibly HEPA bedroom units for the people who need it most

What Galaxy Typically Recommends (Honest Version)

When we come out to a Bay Area home and get the “Should we do an electronic cleaner?” question, we usually:

1. Inspect the system and ducts
   • How’s the airflow?
   • Is there room for a media cabinet?
   • What filter are you using now?
2. Ask about health concerns & goals
   • Mild allergies vs asthma vs just “less dust”?
   • Smoke sensitivity during wildfire season?
3. Talk through layers of improvement
   • Step 1: Fix airflow and filtration basics (media filter, maybe duct sealing)
   • Step 2: Add portable HEPA units in key rooms if needed
   • Step 3: If we’re still not where we want to be and you’re up for the maintenance, consider a high-quality electronic system as an additional tool

We don’t believe in selling fancy electronics to fix problems that a proper filter and good ductwork would have solved.

FAQ – Electronic Air Cleaners vs Regular Filters

Q: Will an electronic air cleaner replace the need for any filter at all?

A: Usually not. Most ducted systems still use some form of pre-filter to catch larger dust and protect the equipment. The electronic section then targets finer particles.

Q: Are electronic air cleaners good for wildfire smoke?

A: They can help with very fine particles, but so can a well-chosen MERV 11–13 media filter plus HEPA room units. We usually start with mechanical filtration and HEPA, then consider electronics if you still need more.

Q: Do electronic cleaners eliminate viruses and germs?

A: They can reduce airborne particles, which may include some bacteria and viruses, but they’re not a magic shield. Ventilation, humidity control, and overall hygiene still matter a lot.

Q: Is a high-MERV filter enough, or do I need electronic too?

A: For many Bay Area homes, a high-quality media filter (MERV 11–13) plus possibly one or two HEPA units gives plenty of benefit without the complexity of electronic systems.

Q: Will a media filter upgrade hurt my furnace or heat pump?

A: Not if it’s properly sized and the system is checked. We measure static pressure when we install media cabinets to make sure your blower and ducts can handle it comfortably.

Not Sure Which Filtration Setup Makes Sense for Your Bay Area Home?

You don’t have to figure this out in the big-box filter aisle.

If you’re in Contra Costa, Alameda, or San Francisco counties, Galaxy Heating & Air Conditioning can:

• Inspect your furnace or heat pump, ductwork, and current filter setup
• Measure airflow and static pressure to see what your system can safely handle
• Explain the pros and cons of regular filters, media filters, and electronic air cleaners in plain language
• Install 4–5″ media cabinets, upgraded filtration, or carefully chosen electronic cleaners where they actually make sense
• Help you build a layered plan (system filter + HEPA units) if you’re dealing with allergies, asthma, or smoke sensitivity

📞 Call or text (925) 578-3293
💬 Or contact us through our website to schedule an air quality & filtration consultation

We’ll help you choose the setup that gives you cleaner air, healthy airflow, and a happier HVAC system—without paying for tech you don’t really need.