Did you know that your indoor air quality can actually be worse than the quality of the air outdoors? At least, this is the case if you don’t have the right indoor air quality products and services in place!
When folks hear “indoor air quality” they tend to think of their air conditioners and heaters–in other words, the temperature of their home. But air quality is about so much more than just temperature. It considers the humidity levels of the home, if there are contaminants present, and even how easily viruses can be transmitted.
The right mix of indoor air quality solutions, expertly installed by our team of professionals, will help ensure your home is as comfortable and as healthy as possible for the years to come. One such option is an air purifier, and there are many different types! The benefits of using an air purifier include cleaner, more breathable air, and reducing the risk of virus transmission.
What Type of Air Purifiers Are There?
There are a few main types of air purifiers, including:
- The Electronic Air Purifier: This system removes microscopic particles from the air, including dust, smog, smoke, pet dander, VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds) such as paint and cleaning supply fumes, and even some mold spores. These are whole-home systems, installed right into your ductwork, and their plates will need to be cleaned off every once in a while to maintain efficiency.
- The Ionization Air Purifier: This is another whole-home system and works by sending positively charges ions into the air to attract the negatively charged particles such as dust and allergens. These systems do not handle VOC’s as well as their electronic counterparts, but are very effective at eliminating other contaminants from the air.
- The UV (Ultraviolet) Air Purifier: This system is a little different from the two mentioned above. Rather than removing particles already in the air, it prevents specific particles from reaching your indoor air to begin with–specifically mold spores, mildew, bacteria and viruses. It’s a safe system that effectively destroys single-cell organisms before they have the chance to reach your indoor air.
- The Portable Air Purifer: Portable air purifiers are great if you have a single room of your home that needs extra air filtration. But for truly comprehensive coverage, you’ll want to look into one or more of the above-mentioned options.
How Often Should I Change My Air Filter?
This is a tricky question. When customers ask this, they’re typically referring to the air filter that comes standard with their HVAC system. This is not the same thing as an air purifier! The HVAC air filter isn’t there to protect your indoor air quality at all, it’s there to protect the interior components of the heating or cooling system in question.
That said, changing your air filter helps the HVAC system mostly, but will also have at least a small impact on your air quality, and should be swapped out, or cleaned if it’s a permanent filter, every 1-3 months.
The air filter within your air purifier, whether it’s a portable system or not, should be changed every 3-6 months, depending on its overall usage.
Will an Air Filter Help with Odor?
While your HVAC system’s standard air filter won’t necessarily help with odor, an air purifier certainly will. By nature, both the electronic air purifier and the UV air purifier eliminate particles that would otherwise cause foul odors in your home. This includes fumes from VOCs, as we mentioned above, cooking smells, mold, and mildew.
How Long do Air Purifiers Last in Iowa?
Under the right conditions… meaning if the system is well maintained as part of your annual HVAC maintenance plan, a whole-house air purifier has a useful service life of about 5 years.
Please reach out to us if you have any further questions!
At Dalton Plumbing, Heating, Cooling, Electric and Fireplaces, Inc., your comfort is our promise! To set up an appointment in the Cedar Falls area, give us a call at the number above, email customerservice@daltonphc.com or schedule an appointment online for the installation of an air purifier in Cedar Rapids, IA.