In order to keep your house energy efficient, you need to ensure that it is sealed uptight. When everything is sealed up tight, the good things like heat and air conditioning stay in, while pollutants stay out. But this also makes it harder for the bad things to get out of your house as well. That’s when your indoor air quality suffers. Pollutants such as smoke from tobacco, wood-burning, gases from cleaning products, dust, mold, and pet dander are all examples of Indoor Air Pollution which can lead to respiratory illnesses and poor health.
There are portable air purifiers that you can buy at a store and plug them in as well as whole-house air purifiers that can be installed into your HVAC system. At A+ Heating & Cooling - Electrical, we recommend investing in an air purification system that’s installed into your HVAC system because they are more durable, reliable, and can cover your whole house easily. Portable air purifiers only cover one room or a small area of the home. Call A+ Heating, Cooling & Electrical today to learn more about air purifiers.
Important whole-house air purifier factors
In order to rid your home of indoor air pollution, you need to consider certain details that can determine how effective your air filter is in cleaning the air in your home.
- Particle Removal Capacity – Your air purifier will come with a Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) that measures the air movement and purification effectiveness. It will tell you how quickly the purifier will clean the air in any particular room size.
- Filtration Type – There are several types of filters to choose from, and replacing them comes with its own price tag. HEPA filters are generally considered the best because they block out 99.97% of all particles larger than 0.3 microns. They require an additional fan to filter the air, so they are not compatible with all HVAC systems. Look for your filter’s Maximum Efficiency Reporting Values, or MERV, rating as well. MERV ratings are between 1-20, and the higher the number the more effective the filter.
- Energy Efficiency – energy-efficient whole-house air purifiers will use less energy to purify your home, keeping your utility bills low.
- Maintenance Costs – When getting a whole-house air purifying system installed in your HVAC system, not only will you have to pay for the unit and the installation, but you should also factor in the cost of the filter as well. Not all air purifier filters cost the same.
Different types of air filtration systems
The type of air filtration system you choose should depend on the type of Indoor Air Pollution in your home. Different filters are better at fighting different kinds of pollutants.
- Flat Filters – you may have a flat filter already in your forced-air furnace. They are made of fiberglass and are ideal for catching large dust particles, but not very effective against smaller microscopic particles.
- Extended Media Filters – Similar to flat filters, extended media filters are much thicker so they don’t usually fit in standard furnace filter slots. Extended media filters are better at catching small to medium-sized particles than flat filters
- Electronic Filters – These filters require a high-voltage current to capture air particles. These are installed directly into the ductwork and are about 30 times more effective than fiberglass filters. However, these filters produce ozone, which can be harmful to your lungs.
- Activated Carbon Filters – Instead of catching particles, activated carbon filters absorb them and eliminate odors. However, they need to be replaced more frequently and tend to cost more than other common filters.
- Ultraviolet Filters – Ultraviolet light has been shown to help stop the spread of diseases and viruses. UV filters are commonly used in hospitals.
Find the perfect whole-house air filtration system for your house
If you’re still unsure which air filter is best for fighting indoor air pollution in your home, then contact the professionals at A+ Heating & Cooling - Electrical. Our friendly team can answer all your questions and install the ideal system for your home so you are confident you’re always breathing clean air.