Are you looking for a simple and practical way to enhance your indoor air quality at home? Whole-house air purifiers are an ideal option for removing pollutants such as allergens, dust, mold and other harmful particles from the air. Purification systems can also remove airborne irritants such as pet dander, mold spores and smoke, creating a healthier environment for everyone in the home. With the correct air purifier, you’ll have an amazing tool in your tool kit for healthier indoor air quality in Streamwood.
Let’s explore the pros of an air purifier and why they are worthy of buying.
Are Air Purifiers Actually Helpful?
Air purifiers are highly efficient at decreasing levels of airborne particles like dust, mold spores, pollen, pet dander and smoke from the air. Some units are even strong enough to eliminate particularly small particles, such as those from odors or viruses, from your home’s air.
There are a lot of brands of air purifiers to choose from, ranging from compact, standalone models to whole-house air purifiers that work together with your central HVAC system. Depending on the design, some purifiers use effective air filters while others depend on ultraviolet (UV) light for its sanitation properties. Some models even incorporate both for maximum air quality benefits.
What Does an Air Purifier Do?
Air purifiers draw in air from the home’s environment and trap harmful pollutants and particles as they move through a series of filters. These filters are made of fine mesh or activated carbon that is ideal for removing dust, molds, pet dander, smoke particles, chemicals and other airborne contaminants. The fan in the air purifier then distributes clean air directly into the ductwork for circulation.
How Does an Air Purifier Work?
Air purifiers bring in air with a fan before blowing it through one or more filters. Impurities are gradually trapped by the line of filters, and then the newly cleaned air is blown out of the purifier. Depending on its design, an air purifier may incorporate electrical charges or ultraviolet light to clean out additional airborne pollutants.
Other types of filtration found in air purifiers:
- High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters: One of the most effective filter designs available, HEPA filters are constructed to clean out up to 99.97% of particles from the air—as little as 0.3 microns! Remember that such efficiency can also minimize airflow.
- Activated carbon filters: These filters consist of finely ground activated carbon, which features an electric charge able to attract things like odor particles.
- Photocatalytic oxidation: This process uses UV light to start a reaction that breaks down microorganisms like bacteria, mold and some viruses. With their DNA broken, many microbes can’t replicate and are basically eradicated.