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Hales Air Conditioning
ElectraGuard™ Polarized Media Filter

One Filter. 97% Cleaner Air.

The 1-inch filter from the hardware store catches rocks. ElectraGuard™ catches what you actually breathe — in the same 1" rack you already have.

  • 4.7 Google rating
  • Serving Tampa Bay Since 1986
  • 40 Years of Experience
  • Licensed CAC1822636
Illustration showing charged particles being captured by polarized media filter fibers

Your Current Filter Is Letting the Worst Stuff Through

98% of airborne particles are under 1 micron (AIHA) — small enough to sail through a store filter into your lungs. Pollen, pet dander, smoke, bacteria: the things your family actually breathes are the exact sizes a 1-inch pleated filter from the hardware store cannot catch.

Try this: hold your current 1" filter up to a light. If you can see through it, so can the dust.
  • Sneezing or itchy eyes inside your own home
  • Pet dander that no filter seems to touch
  • Smoke smell that lingers for hours
  • AC that runs but the air still feels heavy
  • Filters that look dirty after just a few weeks
The Technology

How ElectraGuard™ Actually Works

Polarized media filtration uses an electrical charge — not thicker material — to pull particles out of the air your system is already moving.

1

Air Enters the Unit

Your blower pushes air through the ElectraGuard™ unit, which fits the same 1" slot your current filter occupies. No modifications, no new return, no airflow penalty.

2

Particles Get Charged

An electrical field polarizes airborne particles — pollen, dander, smoke, bacteria — giving them a charge they don’t naturally carry.

3

They Snap to the Media Pad

Charged particles are attracted to the polarized media pad and stick — the same way static clings to a balloon. Pads swap out every 3–4 months at your Hales maintenance visit. Zero errands.

Diagram showing charged airborne particles snapping to polarized media filter pad
The Proof

What Each Filter Actually Catches

Per manufacturer (PMAC) specification sheet. Particle sizes shown are the ones that matter — and the ones a standard filter ignores.

Particle Size ElectraGuard™ 1" Pleated Filter
3–10 microns (pollen, dust) 99% Partial
1–3 microns (dander, fine dust) 98% Not effective
0.3–1 micron (smoke, bacteria) 97% Not effective
Below 0.3 microns (virus-carriers) 40% Not effective

Per manufacturer (PMAC) specification sheet.

Cross-section illustration of air flowing through polarized media filter with charged particles being captured
97%
at 0.3 microns

98% of airborne particles are under 1 micron (AIHA) — small enough to sail through a store filter into your lungs

~1W
~$2/yr to run

silent · zero ozone (spec-verified) · no airflow penalty on your blower

3–4
months per pad

we bring pads & swap them at maintenance — zero errands. Members save 20% on pads

What the Experts Say — about the air inside your home

“Indoor levels of airborne pollutants may be 2–5 times higher — and occasionally more than 100 times higher — than outdoor levels.”

— U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

“Poor indoor air quality can cause or contribute to the development of infections, lung cancer, and chronic lung diseases such as asthma.”

— American Lung Association

“Replacing a dirty, clogged filter with a clean one can lower your air conditioner’s energy consumption by 5% to 15%.”

— U.S. Department of Energy

Nine out of ten HVAC system failures are caused by dirt and dust.”

— Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service
The Product

Fits the Rack You Already Have

ElectraGuard™ installs in the same 1" return-air slot your current filter uses. No modifications. No new equipment. Installed in under 30 minutes — and it comes with a 3-pack of replacement pads for the first year.

PMAC ElectraGuard polarized media air cleaner unit open showing internal media pad PMAC ElectraGuard manufacturer specification sheet showing filtration efficiency ratings
The Ultimate Filter Refresh

How much do you spend on 1-inch filters every year?

Most Tampa Bay homeowners buy 6–12 filters a year at $8–$25 each. That’s $50–$300 per year — every year — for a filter that can’t catch what’s making you sneeze.

ElectraGuard™ costs ~$2/year to run. Pads are serviced at your maintenance visits. Run the numbers.

→ Use the Real Cost Calculator

Frequently Asked Questions

How is ElectraGuard™ different from a HEPA filter or a thicker filter?
A HEPA filter is a great standalone unit but it requires its own housing, its own fan, and significant airflow restriction — most residential HVAC systems can't push air through HEPA media efficiently. Thicker filters (4–5 inch pleated) catch more than a 1-inch filter but still miss sub-micron particles like smoke, bacteria, and fine dander, and they can reduce your system's airflow enough to hurt efficiency and cause ice-ups. ElectraGuard™ fits a standard 1-inch return slot, draws about 1 watt of electricity, creates zero airflow penalty, and captures 97% of particles at the 0.3-micron level that matter most — the level at which EPA testing is conducted. It's the best filter upgrade for an existing system without any modifications.
Will it affect my AC's airflow or make it work harder?
No. This is one of the most common concerns and it's exactly backward from what most people expect. The polarized media pad is extremely porous — air passes through easily. The electrical charge does the work of capturing particles, not a physically dense material. There is no measurable airflow penalty, and because the filter is more effective at capturing the fine particles that clog a system over time, your HVAC actually runs more efficiently long-term. The DOE notes that a clean filter can reduce energy consumption by 5–15%; ElectraGuard™ stays effective between services far longer than a 1-inch pleated filter.
Does it produce ozone? I've heard some air purifiers do.
Zero ozone — this is spec-verified by the manufacturer (PMAC) and is one of the primary reasons Hales AC recommends this product over ionic or plasma air purifiers. Ozone is a lung irritant that can actually make indoor air quality worse, especially for anyone with asthma or respiratory conditions. ElectraGuard™ uses a polarized electric field to charge particles; it does not generate ozone as a byproduct. If ozone-free certification is important to you, ask your technician to show you the PMAC spec sheet.
How often do the pads need to be replaced, and who does it?
Pads are typically swapped every 3–4 months, which aligns with your regular Hales AC maintenance schedule. When our technician comes out for your semi-annual tune-up or maintenance visit, they check and swap the pad as part of the service — you don't have to remember, order anything, or go to a store. Comfort Club members get 20% off replacement pads. The unit itself is designed to last the life of your HVAC system.
What's the difference between the standard price ($1,489) and the member price ($1,191.20)?
Both prices include the ElectraGuard™ unit plus a 3-pack of replacement pads and professional installation. The $297.80 discount is the Right Away Comfort Club member benefit — a 20% reduction applied at the time of service. If you're not currently a Comfort Club member, joining before scheduling the ElectraGuard™ installation immediately saves you more than the cost of a year's membership. Ask your technician or visit our Comfort Club page for details.
How quickly can it be installed?
Most installs take under 30 minutes. The ElectraGuard™ unit slides into the same return-air slot your current filter occupies; our technicians carry the unit and a 3-pack of pads on the truck. If you're scheduling with a tech in your home right now, ask them to add it to today's visit. If you're booking online or calling in, we can typically schedule installation within 1–3 business days in the Tampa Bay / St. Petersburg / Pinellas area.

Request a Quote or Ask a Question

Tell us where you are and a Tampa Bay tech will reach out.

Slides into the rack you already have — installed today.

Stop buying filters that let the worst stuff through. ElectraGuard™ catches 97% of what you’re breathing at 0.3 microns — pollen, dander, smoke, bacteria — for ~$2 a year in electricity.

$1,489 standard · $1,191.20 Comfort Club members

Same-day installation available in Tampa Bay, St. Petersburg & Pinellas.