The Science Behind Air Purifiers

Looking to improve your indoor air quality? Then look into air purifier science for ways to deal with a variety of airborne pollutants. 

Air purifier science reveals how the air inside our homes is often worse than that outside. While stopping pollutants at the source is the best way to deal with them, you may need extra help from air-cleaning devices.

Have a look at how knowing more about air purifier science can help you make the right choice for cleaning your air. Here are some of the most popular devices for residential air cleaning. You may also find purifiers that combine the technology of some of these products in one device. 

Mechanical Filter

Many homeowners choose flimsy fiberglass air filters for their HVAC systems. These are only good for keeping larger particles of dirt out of your system. If you want to clean the air, you'll need dense pleated filters. These trap small particles, including pollen, pet dander, and dust mite particles — the cause of many allergies in the home.

Washable Filter

Washable (or permanent) filters catch particles as they pass through the system with the return air by means of an electrostatic charge. The collection plates must be cleaned according to the manufacturer's instructions.

HEPA Filter

HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters are extra dense to catch the finest particles. While you would have to modify your HVAC system to use one, you can buy stand-alone HEPA air purifiers.

Ozone Purifiers

These purifiers clean the air by means of a negative ion that attaches to fine particles. The drawback with this device is that they produce ozone, which can be harmful to those with allergies.

Activated Charcoal

This type of air purifier helps get rid of gases such as cigarette smoke.

UVGI Lights

UVGI (Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation) lights are installed inside the HVAC system. They disrupt the DNA of living pollutants such as germs, mildew, and mold.

For more on air purifier science, contact Air Assurance of Broken Arrow.

Need a Whole House Humidifier? 5 Tips on How to Find the Right One

Dry air is a common problem during the winter months and can lead to nasal discomfort, throat irritation and frequent nosebleeds. It can also cause arcs of static electricity and can dry out or crack wood furniture and flooring. A comfortable range of humidity for most homes is around 30 percent during winter and up to 50 percent during summer. The right whole house humidifier can ensure the humidity levels in your home remain at comfortable levels to prevent these issues.

A whole house humidifier is permanently installed on your furnace. The size of humidifier you need in your home depends on the living area and the level of humidity you want to achieve, but these five tips can help you find the right humidifier for your home.

1. Determine the square footage of your home to select a unit large enough to provide the proper amount of humidity. Homes that are drafty will require a higher-output humidifier than homes that are tightly sealed.

2. Choose whole house humidifiers over stand-alone units for minimum maintenance. Whole house humidifiers utilize your home’s water supply and furnace blower, thus requiring less maintenance than stand-alone models, which must be monitored and refilled regularly.

3. Compare the evaporative capacity of each model you’re considering. A whole house humidifier with a high output adds moisture more rapidly than humidifiers that have lower outputs.

4. Look for whole house humidifiers with automatic controls. These allow you to set the humidity level once and turn off and on when necessary to maintain a consistent relative humidity level. Units with manual controls must be consistently monitored.

5. Investigate to determine how much maintenance and cleaning is required for each model you’re considering. Some whole house humidifiers have filters that need to be replaced periodically. Others have permanent filters that require cleaning just once or twice a year. Look for humidifiers that have panel indicator lights so you can see when maintenance is needed.

For more information about whole house humidifiers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow areas, and how to select the type that best suits your needs, contact Air Assurance today.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). 

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