Air Cleaners and Purifiers
Air Cleaners and choosing the right one for your home
Your home should be your sanctuary, where you can breathe easily and feel protected. However, many things in our homes contribute to poor indoor air quality. The ones that come to mind first are usually smoking, germs, pets, mold, trash, and those particles kicked up with every flush of the toilet, but here are some you may not have thought of like product off-gassing, cleaning chemicals, or burning candles. You could put an air filter in each room of your home to capture these particles, or you can simply install a whole-home air cleaning system!
All air cleaners work to remove particles and organisms from your home air through your ductwork system. Once installed to your furnace or in the ductwork near it, they treat the air as it passes through.
UV Air Purifiers
UV air purifiers use short-wave ultraviolet light to render airborne pathogens and micro organisms inactive. They work well to sterilize the air from mold, bacteria, and viruses. UV air purifiers require an electric connection, and bulb replacement annually.
Media Box Air Cleaners
Media box air cleaners are a thick filter that traps particles as they pass through. The rating of the filter will dictate the size of the particles that it catches. (See section on MERV ratings and HEPA info below) Dust mites, pollen, and pet dander are all relatively large particles and can be trapped easily in a media box filter. Generally, the higher the rating, the finer the filter mesh, and the more it will catch. Replace media box filters quarterly to annually, depending on the filter.
Media Box Air Cleaner Filter by Honeywell
Electronic Air Cleaners
An electronic air cleaner is like a supercharged filter. It uses electrostatic technology to draw particles into the filter and trap them. The Aprilaire Model 5000 Electronic Air Purifier traps virus-sized particles and ultra-fine particles down to 0.01 micron in size.
Active Particle Control
At Dave Jones, we’ve searched for the indoor air purification that’s not only efficient but also affordable. We found the home version of and air filtration system used in hospitals, SecureAire. SecureAire’s ACTIVE Particle Control is the only technology that transports hazardous indoor air pollutants to be captured and INACTIVATED™ within the filter.
From SecureAire: Scientifically proven to remove or inactivate up to 99.9% of the smallest and most dangerous particles in the air you breathe. For example, SecureAire has been proven to reduce infections at a hospital and kill the ANTHRAX surrogate in real-world scientific studies. https://secureaire.com/active-particle-control/
SecureAire’s ACTIVE Particle Control Technology has been proven in hospitals and LEED-certified commercial buildings to exceed passive filtration strategies. It’s reliable and easy to maintain. Just replace the disposable filter when notified, typically every 6-12 months. (SecureAire.com)
Check out this case study video from Auer Steel about SecureAire solutions for small businesses.
Auer Steel // Sunn Cafe: An IAQ Case Study from ttpro.co on Vimeo.
(Source: SecureAire2020)
What does HEPA mean?
HEPA stands for High-Efficiency Particulate Air and is a type of air filter. It is made of an ultra-fine, glass-fiber medium and is manufactured, tested, certified, and labeled in accordance with current HEPA filter standards. HEPA filters can theoretically remove at least 99.97% of dust, pollen, mold, bacteria, and any airborne particles with a size of 0.3 microns (EPA 2019).
Understanding a MERV rating
MERV is short for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value and refers to how efficient it is at catching particles. One a scale of 1 to 16, the higher the MERV rating is, the more efficient it is at capturing particles. MERV filters are not right for every system. The higher the MERV rating, the more it can restrict airflow and strain your HVAC system.
How to Buy
Dave Jones carries SecureAire, Honeywell, Aprilaire, Premier One UV Lights, Breathe Clean, and Trion brand air cleaners. By having lots of options, we can find you the right air cleaner for your home based on your needs. Different brands highlight different features in their sales materials, so the text above is more of a guide than an apples-to-apples comparison. If you need help choosing, contact us, and we will help you find the air cleaner that’s perfect for you.
How to save $$ on installation
Bundle your home air cleaner installation with another service. Instead of paying (and scheduling) two separate trips, bundle two services together. You save us the time and money of a separate trip, and we pass the savings on to you! For example. Have your new air cleaner installed during your routine furnace or a/c tune-up. Or install an air cleaner with your new furnace!
You deserve to clean air at home, schedule your install today!
Related Blog Post: Change my furnace air filter even though I’ve been running the A/C?
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