HVAC air purifiers are becoming better known among homeowners, as word gets around that indoor air is often more polluted than outdoor air. It’s also becoming well known that airborne pollutants can cause allergic reactions, asthma attacks and other respiratory problems.
It’s always better to eliminate at the source the airborne pollutants that trigger these reactions. But air purifiers are also an excellent way of improving the air quality in your home.
Types of Airborne Pollutants Found in the Home
Most homes are rife with airborne particulates, including these:
- Pet dander
- Pollen
- Dust mites and particles of other insects
- Volatile organics compounds (VOCs)
- Dust and dirt
- Mold, mildew and fungus
- Viruses
- Bacteria
- Cigarette smoke
Discuss what you think is polluting your air with your HVAC consultant, who can make a recommendation about the kind of air purification you need.
Types of Air Purifiers
Air purifiers, also sometimes known as air cleaners, come in several guises. The most familiar will be the flat, media-type filter in your HVAC system. Your air filter can work as an air cleaner, but only if you use a good quality, pleated model, with a MERV (minimum efficiency reporting value) of 8-12. These filters trap a wide variety of pollutants as they pass through the HVAC return air.
Permanent electrostatic air filters also fits inside your HVAC system. These trap particles by means of a static charge. Collection trays must be cleaned periodically, but the filters last for a long time. In general, though, they are not considered as effective as pleated disposable filters.
Activated carbon filters can remove cigarette smoke, VOCs and other gases from the air. They may be installed in the HVAC system, or may be in portable devices that are moved around.
UVGI (ultraviolet germicidal irradiation) lights are installed inside the HVAC system and destroy living organisms such as mold, mildew, fungus and bacteria.
Very dense HEPA (high efficiency particular air) filters installed in portable filters are another popular way of cleaning the air.
For more on HVAC air purifiers, contact Mowery Heating, Cooling and Plumbing of Indianapolis.
