Maybe you’re concerned enough about your home’s indoor air quality that you’ve installed a whole-home air purifier or cleaner. That’s an important step, but sometimes, you may wonder if the air cleaning technology is doing its job.
How does a homeowner know if the air purifier is really working? The answer depends on the type of technology you’ve installed. There are several different types, and all are designed to clear the air of different airborne pollutants.
Here’s a brief rundown on a few of the types and how you can know if they are working.
Mechanical Filtration
This can be as basic as a dense, pleated, good quality air filter installed in your HVAC, or a HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter installed in your modified HVAC system. With either type, you should be able to look at the air filter to see if it is dirty, then change it.
UVGI
Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation technology consists of ultraviolet bulbs installed inside your HVAC system to kill living organisms such as mold, mildew, fungus or bacteria in the HVAC’s return air so that the particles are not distributed in the home’s supply air. Check the bulbs if you can reach them, or have your HVAC technician do so, to make sure they are burning bright. If they are dimming, they should be replaced. They only work well when they are bright.
Electrostatic Filters
These filters trap particles by means of an electrostatic charge. They have to be washed occasionally to work properly, but last a long time. There are a number of different designs for different levels of filtration.
Activated Carbon Filtration
This technology employs activated charcoal to cleanse air of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), cigarette smoke and other gases. It’s hard to tell when these filters need changing so follow the manufacturer’s guidelines.
It’s also recommended that you install a carbon monoxide monitor, a smoke detector, and an air quality monitor for detecting different types of pollutants in your home.
For more on evaluating your air purifier, or other HVAC topics, contact Hansberger Refrigeration and Electric Company of 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 other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 928-723-3183.
