With increased concern for indoor air quality, homeowners are constantly seeking ways to enhance their homes’ air quality. Air purifiers are among the most well-known indoor air quality solutions available today. In this discussion, we’ll explore what air purifiers are and how effective they can be for your home’s air quality.
What Is an Air Purifier?
An air purifier is an air-cleaning device designed to remove contaminants from the air, thereby improving your overall indoor air quality. Similar to your HVAC air filter, an air purifier uses one or more filters to trap airborne contaminants. However, it’s important to note that air purifiers do not specifically kill contaminants; instead, they capture them to prevent circulation in your living space.
What’s the Difference Between Portable and Whole-Home Units?
Air purifiers come in two main forms: portable units and whole-home systems. Portable air purifiers are designed to handle a limited square footage of a single room and are powered by standard outlet plugs. For example, a portable air purifier may be rated to manage 400 square feet. However, larger rooms may require multiple units to achieve adequate air purification, which can be inconvenient and less effective.
On the other hand, whole-home air purifiers are integrated into your HVAC system’s ductwork, providing filtration for the entire house. These systems filter the air as it circulates through your HVAC system, removing unwanted airborne contaminants throughout your home. While whole-home air purifiers require a higher initial investment, they offer comprehensive, real-time filtration without the need for multiple portable units scattered around your living space.
Do Air Purifiers Kill Germs and Viruses?
While air purifiers are effective at removing airborne particles like dust, mold, and pollen, a common question is whether they can kill germs and viruses. High-efficiency air purification systems can capture nearly all airborne particles down to 0.3 microns in size, including bacteria and viruses. However, it’s important to understand that these systems trap contaminants in their filters rather than killing them outright. Once trapped, these pollutants remain in the filter and eventually die due to the lack of circulation.
However, some whole-home air purifiers, like REME®HALO and MicorPure® Whole-Home Air Purifiers, offered by GVEC, integrate the addition of UV light and “micro scrubbers” that can actually kill pollutants like allergens, viruses and bacteria they trap and even on surfaces in your home! This can greatly help limit severe allergies, asthma, or respiratory conditions and reduce symptoms.
For instance, standard air purifiers typically remove larger particles like dust, pollen, animal dander, and mold spores. Air purifiers such as theses are effective at removing unwanted gases from your air, such as VOCs and secondhand smoke. HEPA filters, known for their high efficiency, can remove 99.97% of all airborne particles down to 0.3 microns, including pathogens and other germs.
Trustworthy IAQ Service
GVEC Air Conditioning & Heating offers reliable indoor air quality services in South Central Texas . Our highly experienced HVAC technicians can also assist with all your air conditioning, heating, commercial HVAC, ductwork, and energy audit needs. Contact us today to schedule your next service consultation with one of our friendly technicians.
