This may come as a surprise to some homeowners, but did you know the air inside the average home is two to five times – and occasionally as much as 100 times – more polluted than the air outside? Poor indoor air quality can cause a number of concerns, especially for people who suffer from asthma, allergies or other respiratory illnesses.
Fortunately, improving the air quality in your Quad Cities’ home can be as simple as installing a whole house air purifier or air cleaner. But how are these products different, and which one should I choose for my home?
In our latest blog post, the indoor air quality professionals at Schebler Heating and Air explain everything you need to know about these indoor air quality products.
How Do Air Cleaners Work?
A whole house air cleaner is installed directly to your home’s HVAC system and provides complete coverage to your home. Aside from the many health benefits they provide, air cleaners can also help prolong the lifespan of your HVAC system, as excess debris is prevented from building up in the system and leading to premature wear and tear.
Air cleaners are installed in between your HVAC system and the return ductwork. They use a built-in HEPA filter to remove indoor air pollution and airborne contaminants in the air to prevent them from re-entering your living spaces.
Some of the common indoor air pollutants air cleaners filter out include:
- Dust
- Dust mites
- Pollen
- Pet dander
- Tobacco smoke
- Mold
- Mildew
- Fungus
How Do UV Light Air Purifiers Work?
Although air purifiers and air cleaners have the same end goal – removing pollutants and contaminants from the air supply – the way they work is quite a bit different.
Instead of using filters to catch airborne particles, air purifiers use UV (ultraviolet) germicidal lamps to neutralize organic matter in the air, including bacteria, viruses, pollen, dust and mold spores. The UV lights effectively neutralize the matter on contact so they are unable to reproduce. Although the particles remain in your home’s air supply, they are rendered harmless to humans and pets.
Benefits of Using Air Cleaners and Air Purifiers
Some of the benefits of installing UV air purifiers and air cleaners in your home include:
- Healthier air. After you install an air cleaner, you’ll immediately notice fresher, cleaner and healthier air inside your home because of the absence of mold spores, dust and pet dander, and more. The reduction in allergens can also improve the health of your family members, especially if any of them suffer from allergies.
- Reduced odors. Bacteria, mildew and mold can produce odors that linger in your home for days. Air cleaners will capture these contaminants to reduce smelly odors.
- Less illness. With fewer contaminants floating around your air supply, your family members will be sick less because viruses won’t linger in the air supply.
- Longer HVAC system lifespan. Not only will your HVAC system run more efficiently with an air cleaner or air purifier, you can also increase its lifespan by preventing contaminants from causing wear and tear to various components.
- Low maintenance. The bulbs in UV air purifiers only need to be replaced every year or two.
If your regular HVAC air filter isn’t cutting it, and you’re looking for ways to improve your home’s air quality, consider contacting Schebler Heating and Air today to learn more about our IAQ products.
Contact Schebler for Indoor Air Quality Solutions
So which type of air cleaning product should you choose for your home – an air purifier or an air cleaner? It really boils down to personal preference. To learn more information about our line of indoor air quality equipment or to make an appointment for installation services, contact Schebler today. We can help improve indoor air quality in no time.