We all want to breathe clean air.
The air we breathe indoors often isn’t clean, though. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency found that indoor air can be anywhere from two to five times as polluted as outdoor air, and a World Health Organization study revealed that breathing dirty indoor air is responsible for 4.3 million premature deaths each year.
That’s troubling.
The good news, however, is that there are a variety of innovative technologies that can effectively and efficiently improve indoor air quality. These purification systems are designed to remove dust, mold, bacteria, and even viruses from the air we breathe, improving the air quality of our indoor environments.
(In a season where coronavirus is a major concern, it’s worth noting that these systems kill 99.9% of germs. Studies haven’t yet measured the effectiveness of air purification systems against COVID-19 specifically, but experts believe that it’s highly likely that they kill the virus. Studies have shown that these systems kill influenza.)
In light of all of this, we believe that installing an air purification system in your home can be a great option. To help you understand what that entails, let’s take a look at the basics of air purification. We’ll answer questions like:
Hopefully, the information here will prepare you to evaluate air purification systems for your own home – and, possibly, bring you one step closer to cleaner indoor air.
Let’s dive in.
There are two primary types of air purification systems: active systems and passive systems.
Passive systems rely on air flowing across a filter to achieve results. We typically install these into ductwork systems. Essentially, this means replacing your standard air filters with filters that are designed to capture and kill particles, often using a UV light or electricity to zap germs. While it’s effective for the air that flows through your ductwork, it only purifies the air passively.
Active systems, on the other hand, actually change the makeup of your indoor air to remove pollutants. Here’s a link to a video that explains this approach in more detail.
Systems like this one are installed on the supply or return duct of your HVAC system to impact the air that passes through.
We generally recommend active air purification systems to our customers; we’ve simply found them to be more effective at improving indoor air quality. Here are some of the solutions we often recommend:
The Air Scrubber uses proprietary ActivePure® Technology to eliminate harmful contaminants in the air – and even on the surfaces – of your home. There are both ozone-producing and non-ozone-producing models available. It’s worth noting that if you opt for an ozone-producing model and find that you’re sensitive to ozone, the company will replace your model with the non-ozone-producing version for free.
APCO produces a whole-house treatment system that detoxes air as its circulated by your HVAC. It uses a combination of UV-C light and activated carbon to remove microbes, odors, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
The Air Knight IPG air purification system is another active option that generates ionic oxidizers to purify pollutants in the air and on the surfaces of your home. These oxidizers cause airborne particles to gather together, making air filtering more efficient and effective.
We offer all of these solutions – but if we had to choose one, we’d pick Air Scrubber solutions for their effectiveness. The best solution for your home, though, will depend on your space, needs, and budget.
Installation is pretty straightforward for the active systems; most of these solutions take the form of small box – often under a foot in width and height. This can be easily installed in a single visit.
Passive systems vary depending on the ductwork needed, but, usually, these installations don’t require a long time, either.
Depending on the system you select, there are a few maintenance needs to consider. Passive systems that rely on filters will require filters to be replaced quite frequently – usually within six months, at least. Replacements vary in cost, but you’ll typically be paying hundreds of dollars each year to keep filters fresh.
Some active systems also require filters, but the main maintenance consideration for most of these systems is the bulb. Air Knight and Air Scrubber require replacement bulbs every two years; APCO’s system requires replacement every three. Depending on the make and model, bulbs will cost you somewhere in the neighborhood of $300 or $400.
If you’re considering an air purification system for your home, get in touch with us.
At Rod Miller, we’re honored to provide homeowners with leading products and expert services that keep people comfortable and safe. If you have more questions about how air purification systems work or what the best solution for your home might be, give us a call and one of our trusted technicians can help.
You should be able to enjoy the comfort of your home – and you should be able to trust that the air you’re breathing is clean and safe. Our promise, always, is that you can trust your home to us.
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