You may already know that your indoor air quality declines when your house is closed up against the cold winter weather, and it may be particularly concerning if anyone in your household suffers from allergies, asthma or other respiratory problems. Learning more about air filtration vs. air cleaning can help you find the right solution to boost your air quality and enjoy a healthier home environment this winter.
Air Filtration Basics
A good example of basic air filtration is the filter in your HVAC system that’s effective at capturing larger debris particles so they don’t collect on the system’s sensitive components. If you regularly change out the filter when it gets dirty, you might assume that you’re helping boost your indoor air quality too. Standard filters have relatively low minimum efficiency reporting values (MERV), so they don’t restrict airflow and erode the system’s energy efficiency or damage the components. Particles that can adversely affect health are usually too small to get caught by these filters, so they can’t really benefit your air quality.
How Air Cleaning is Different
Air cleaning to get rid of the particles and contaminants that erode air quality is possible using specialized equipment. An experienced HVAC pro is your best source of advice on which of these two main types of air cleaners you need:
- Filtration units. This kind of air cleaner is specifically designed to use a higher MERV filter without restricting vital airflow. It’s integrated into your HVAC system so that airflow through the system gets routed through the filter, which can trap microscopic particles like pollen, mold spores, dust mites, pet dander, soot and tobacco smoke to improve your air quality.
- Purifier units. An air purifier equipped with an ultraviolet (UV) lamp is effective for killing airborne microorganisms like bacteria and viruses. This kind of air cleaner is typically placed in a supply or return duct near the HVAC air handler and runs in tandem with your heating or cooling equipment.
For help determining if your Dayton home could benefit from air filtration or air cleaning, contact us today at Ace Hardware Home Services.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Dayton, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
