Are Air Purifiers Effective at Improving Indoor Air Quality?
With all that’s been happening over the past few years, a lot of attention has been focused on air purifiers. Air purifiers do exactly as their name suggests; they clean the air. You may be wondering whether an air purifier is worth getting for your home and whether it’s actually effective. The answer is that an air purifier can make a positive difference in your indoor air quality by removing pollutants and other contaminants.
What Do Air Purifiers Remove?
Air purifiers may be able to target a number of particulates. Those can include:
- Pollen
- Dust
- Pet Dander
- Mold spores
- Smoke
- Airborne particles containing viruses
In addition, they can remove certain odors from a home, and this may be important in places that have a tendency to get musty, as well as in homes in which smoke is present.
When an air filter does its job effectively, you may notice a change in your indoor air quality. If anyone in the home has allergies or asthma, the chances of experiencing related symptoms could be reduced.
How Do Air Purifiers Work?
Air purifiers generally have simple but effective designs. They have fans that allow them to draw air in. When the air enters their systems, it passes through filters that have been built to trap pollutants and other particulate matter. The air continues to flow through and is released back into the home.
Whole-home air purifiers can be efficient at addressing your household air. They can be connected to existing heating or central air conditioning systems, and they can constantly be working to enhance indoor air quality.
Types of Air Purifiers
There are several kinds of whole-home air purifiers that you can consider, starting with a flat-filter system. Homes with forced-air furnaces actually already have this type of system since these furnaces require the use of filters to protect their internal components from dust and debris. While a flat filter can remove many particles from the air, there are more advanced systems that you might benefit from.
Many air purifying systems come with extended media filters. An extended media filter could be about eight inches thick, so it’s significantly more substantial than just one filter that would be used with a regular furnace. An extended media filter looks kind of like an accordion, and because there are so many different layers, it can do its job very well.
Electronic filters take advantage of technological advancements. Through the use of a high-voltage current, these systems are able to create an electrical charge, which their filters pick up. The charged filters can then attract oppositely charged particles, such as smoke particulates. Keep in mind that these types of electronic filters also have pre-filters that are not charged, and these pre-filters can capture larger materials like dust and dander.
Another type of air purification system uses ultraviolet filters. A UV filter would usually be added to another form of air purification system, and it adds another layer of protection. That’s because UV light can deal with some airborne bacteria and viruses.
At Bash Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc., based in Champaign, IL, we can take care of the installation of an air purification system for you, and we offer maintenance and repair services, too. We can help you figure out what specific model would be best for your place. In doing so, we’ll take into account your square footage and your efficiency preferences. The CADR, or “clean air delivery rate,” of air purification systems will allow us to narrow down the options. If anyone smokes or you are especially sensitive to dust, pollen, or other allergens, we’ll take note of that as well.
Count on Our Assistance
At Bash Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc., we’re always happy to help people in our local community. In addition to offering services related to indoor air quality, we regularly install, maintain, and service heating and cooling systems. Plus, we have experience with humidifiers and HVAC sheet metal fabrication. We’ve been in the industry since 1952, so we know that it takes dedication and hard work to meet our customers’ needs. Three generations of our family have gone into the business. Our skilled and knowledgeable team can answer questions and help you learn more about your options. Contact us to schedule an appointment or to find out more about how we can help you.
