If you’ve been thinking about installing an air cleaner or air purifier in your home, don’t get stuck on the semantics. There is no difference between the two terms. They are interchangeable. Instead, spend your research efforts on which air cleaning methods are good for your indoor air quality, home, and HVAC system.
SOMETHING’S IN THE AIR
It’s impossible to prevent airborne contaminants from existing inside your home. So, the solution to maintaining more healthful indoor air free of microorganisms, allergens, and VOCs is to capture, neutralize, and remove them. That’s exactly what a good air cleaner is designed to do — reduce the amount of airborne contaminants, such as viruses, mold spores, dust, smoke odors, harmful vapors, and more.
Following are technologies you may want your air cleaner to employ:
- UV: UV lights safely use radiation inside your air ducts to neutralize microorganisms that can cause you illness and damage your HVAC system and home.
- HEPA: High-Efficiency Particulate Air filters are tops for capturing airborne particulates. If anyone in your home suffers from respiratory ailments, consider HEPA filtration.
- Electronic: Electronic air cleaners charge particles and remove them with metal plates emanating an opposite charge. Opposites do attract!
PORTABLE OR WHOLE-HOUSE?
You can purchase a portable air cleaner to focus on cleaning the air in one room. Better yet, make sure the air is clean in your entire home with a whole-house system. Any of the air cleaning technologies you choose are available to be installed in the ductwork of your HVAC system, which protects vital HVAC parts, in addition to your home and indoor air.
AIR CLEANERS AND HVAC EFFICIENCY
Electronic and UV air cleaners don’t use media filters, such as HEPA or electrostatic filters. This means that they won’t obstruct airflow, nor increase your cooling and heating costs. On the other hand, HEPA filters are quite dense and aren’t for all HVAC systems. Your HVAC technician can advise you on which avenue to take.
Make your job of choosing the right air cleaner easy by contacting Jackson & Sons. Our family-owned company has served residents of Eastern North Carolina since 1974!
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Eastern North Carolina (including Wayne, Johnston, Greene, Lenoir, Pitt and Duplin Counties) about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
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