Are you debating whether to have an air cleaner or air purifier installed in your Dayton home? Either way, it’s an investment that will improve your air quality and make breathing easier for anyone in your household who suffers from allergies, asthma or other respiratory problems. Learning more about the differences between air cleaning and purification can make it easier to choose.
Air Cleaners
You’ll find two types of air cleaners available today:
- Electronic air cleaners that use an electric charge to ionize and capture airborne particles. Ozone is emitted during the process, so this may not be the best choice because this lung irritant can actually worsen respiratory issues.
- Mechanical air cleaners use a replaceable filter to capture particles that are floating in the air.
Whole-home versions of mechanical air cleaners offer the greatest convenience, since they’re integrated into the HVAC system so that all the return air is sent through the filter before it’s heated or cooled and sent out through the supply ductwork. There are systems available with different filtering capabilities to rid the air of:
- Ash, dust and soil particles.
- Dust mites.
- Mold and mildew.
- Animal dander.
- Tobacco smoke.
Air Purifiers
Air purifiers also boost air quality, but they use a different mechanism than air cleaners. Instead of using a filter medium, air purifiers eradicate contaminants and pollutants using ultraviolet (UV) light. There are whole-home air purifiers that are installed in the ductwork, so a home’s air supply gets sent across the UV light before it’s conditioned and pushed out through the ducting by the blower fan. UV lights are also known as germicidal lamps because they’re very effective at killing mold, mildew, viruses and bacteria.
How to Decide Which Type is Best
If you’re not sure which method is right for your home, talk to a professional about the issues you need addressed. Depending on your needs, you may learn that a system that combines both technologies is the ideal option.
For expert advice about whether to pick an air cleaner or air purifier for your Dayton home, contact us 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).
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