Airtight homes an cause a buildup of contaminants that are harmful to sufferers of allergies, asthma, emphysema, bronchitis and other respiratory problems. A great reason to install an air purifier is that it can control and kill particles that aggravate respiratory conditions, while lowering your household’s chance of catching and passing on diseases caused by viruses and bacteria.
Not all air purification equipment or air cleaners are equal — nor should they be. Air purification technology is often directe
d at handling very specific contaminants in a home or medical setting. It pays to know which kinds of contaminant you want to remove, so you can make the best choice.
Types of Contaminants
Indoor contaminants affecting you and your family probably include dust, dust mites, pet dander, mold, mildew, fungus, bacteria, viruses, smoke and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). What type of air cleaner do you need to combat these particles fouling your air?
Types of Air Purifiers
UVGI: An acronym for ultraviolet germicidal irradiation, this technology features UV lamps that are installed in an HVAC system to target mold, mildew, fungus and viruses.
Mechanical Filtration: This usually refers to the type of air filter you have installed in your HVAC system. Depending on the MERV (minimum efficiency reporting value) of your filter, you can filter out particles, such as the ones listed above. The higher the MERV, the better it’ll be at filtrating smaller particles, such as bacteria, viruses and smoke.
Electrostatic: This technology attracts particles by means of an electrostatic charge, with the particles sticking to a collection plate.
Gas Phase: These air purifiers absorb certain odors and gases, including VOCs, from the air with a carbon-activated filter.
HEPA: Ultra-dense high efficiency particulate air filters achieve nearly 100 percent purification. As a type of mechanical filtration, they’re usually too dense for most HVAC systems without modification. However, portable HEPA air purifiers are available.
For more information about air purifiers, contact Hansberger Refrigeration and Electric Company in Yuma.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Yuma, Arizona about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about air purifiers and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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