Improving indoor air quality is best done by attacking pollutants at the source through practices that prevent the buildup of airborne particulates. However, if you live in a modern, airtight home, an air cleaner can augment your air cleaning regimen significantly. Air cleaners differ in the type of pollutants they target, so do your homework to find the one that’s right for you.
Here’s a rundown on some of the types of air cleaners and the particulates they help control.
Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI) Lights
Mold can occur in your home whenever there’s excessive moisture from leaks, condensation or buildup in poorly ventilated bathrooms and kitchens. Mold spores circulate in your air and can aggravate allergies and cause breathing problems. UVGI lights installed in your HVAC system target mold, fungus and bacteria by destroying their DNA so they can’t reproduce. Bulbs can dim over time and must be changed.
Filtration
Installing a quality pleated air filter in your HVAC system will help get rid of most of the smallest airborne particulates as they’re drawn into the system with the return air. Choose a filter rated 8 to 12 on the minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) scale. The dense medium of the filter will trap pollen, pet dander, dust, insect particles and hair and skin flakes.
Gas Phase Filtration
Carbon-activated filtration installed in your HVAC system will help control tobacco smoke and off-gassing from volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by formaldehyde, pesticides, pressed wood, dry cleaning and other sources in your home. You should also try to limit the introduction of these pollutants by airing out new rugs, furniture or dry cleaning before bringing them inside, and not allowing smoking in your home.
Electronic Filtration
These air cleaners use static electricity to charge pollutants as they pass through the filter material. The particles are then collected on a plate with an opposite charge. Not all electronic filters have to be changed but plates do need cleaning.
For more on air cleaners, contact Energy 1 Heating and Air Conditioning. We’ve served Lorain, Erie and Cuyahoga counties for 35 years.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Lorain, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about air cleaners and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area