The indoor air quality (IAQ) of both residential and commercial buildings can be shockingly low. In fact, the US EPA estimates that indoor air quality can be three to four times worse than outdoor air quality, which is the exact opposite of the way people usually think it is!
If you’re worried about the air quality in your home, you may want to look into professional IAQ services. One of the most common IAQ devices for homes are air purifiers. Will your home benefit from an air purifier? We offer air purifier services in Ellensburg, WA and the surrounding areas, and we can provide you with some insight into this question.
Portable vs. Whole-House Purifiers
When we talk about air purifiers, we’re specifically referring to whole-house air purification systems, not the portable air purifiers you can purchase at stores or online. These portable units can do some good for a house, but they have limited scope and lack the power of whole-house air purifiers. The latter are integrated directly into the HVAC system so that all air circulated through a home receives treatment from the air purifier. In general, we recommend looking into a whole-house purifier if you want to make a significant difference in your household indoor air quality.
Air Filters and Air Purifiers
If you’re considering an air purifier, we also recommend you look into air filters as well. If you don’t have whole-house air filters (different from the standard filter found on your HVAC system), it’s best to have those installed first before you have an air purification system put in.
This isn’t an either/or situation: purifiers and filters work together to provide the best air cleaning. Air filters trap larger contaminants such as dust, lint, pollen, and dander, and air purifiers eliminate whatever manages to escape through the filters, such as odor molecules, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), mold spores, microbes, etc. The right combination of filter and purifier can eliminate more than 98% of contaminants. An air purifier without a filter won’t give you the results you want.
Air Purifier Types
There are multiple types of air purifiers available that use different methods to remove contaminants.
The most common is an ionizer air purifier. This type of purifier creates an electric discharge within the HVAC system that negatively or positively charges (ionizes) particles that move through it. These particles then clump together, either falling from the air or getting more easily caught in the filters. The air purifier may have charged plates that pull down the ionized particles.
Another common type of air purifier, the UV air purifier, uses ultraviolet light to destroy organic pollutants: bacteria, viruses, germs, mold spores, and various microbes. They don’t affect the same types of pollutants as ionizers, so you’ll want to work closely with installers to find the ideal type of air purifier for your household needs.
Rely on Our HVAC Pros
We offer several different indoor air quality services that can help you enjoy the clean air you and your family deserve to breathe indoors. Call us and we’ll find out what air purifiers, filters, or other IAQ devices will meet your needs.
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