These days, modern houses are built tightly. They are built that way in order to make them more energy-efficient. However, this sometimes results in a stuffy, less-than-pure indoor air quality. If you or your loved ones find yourself frequently sneezing or wheezing when at home, it could be something in the air. Investing in a good air purifier can help restore cool, fresh air indoors and prevent asthma attacks and other respiratory health conditions. However, there are many types of air purifiers available to choose from, and choosing the right one for your needs will help make sure your air purifier or filter is doing just what you need it to.
Understanding Common Types of Air Purifiers
There are many types of air purifiers to choose from, and these include the following:
- Portable Air Purifiers – These types of air purifiers are standalone units that have wheels underneath, making them easy to move from one room to another. They are generally inexpensive but have limited capacity.
- Whole House Air Purifiers – These types of air purifiers are a lot more expensive than the portable ones, and they need to be installed by a professional HVAC company. These are usually attached to a home’s heating and cooling system and provide purified air to the entire home.
- Ozone Generators – These purifiers work by pumping ozone into the air, which effectively oxidizes and kills off the bacteria. However, ozone is not a stable molecule and it has a reportedly toxic nature. The Environmental Protection Agency has now banned the use of these types of air purifiers.
- HEPA Filters – Short for High Efficiency Particulate Air, HEPA filters are made from very fine fiber-like mesh that attracts airborne particles. HEPA technology can attract up to 99.97% of particles, even those that are 0.3 microns in size. Most allergists and doctors recommend HEPA air purifier types because of their ability to attract air contaminants down to the microscopic level. These air filters work by trapping all the contaminants inside, with only pure, clean air making it on the other side.
- Activated Carbon Filters – These types of air purifiers are made from activated carbon that comes in granular form. Carbon is good at absorption and chemical bonding, and its porous nature can attract, absorb, and trap large amounts of allergens such as dust, mold, pet dander, smoke, and chemical emissions.
- UV Technology – Unlike other types of air purifiers, UV air purifiers do not use a physical filter to trap particles from the air. Instead, it makes use of a UV lamp placed in your HVAC system. As contaminants travel in the direction of the UV light, the electromagnetic radiation from the lamp destroys the molecular bonds in their DNA, effectively destroying them. A UV air purifier is effective at destroying bacteria, viruses, mold, and yeast but it cannot remove dust and other solid contaminants in the air. This type of air purifier works best in sterile environments such as hospitals.
Learn More About Types of Air Purifiers
If you are interested in buying an air purifier for the home, you must choose one from the many types of air purifiers that are available. There are many options available, and choosing one can be confusing and overwhelming at first.
Allow the experts at Galmiche & Sons to help you make the right choice based on your needs and budget. Please give our heating and air conditioning experts a call at 314-993-1110 for immediate assistance.
