How To Tell If a Home Needs an Air Cleaner
When it comes to indoor air quality, sometimes the standard air filter included in their home’s HVAC system is not enough. Air filters are great for trapping most dust and debris, but to truly cleanse the air, homeowners may need to use additional tools like air purifiers or UV air sanitizers.
These two appliances employ the same principle of cleansing air as it moves through the unit, but there are differences in what they accomplish and how they accomplish it. This article will walk homeowners through what are air purifiers and UV air sanitizers, the benefits of each system, and why they might need them for their home.
What Is a UV Air Sanitizer and What Is an Air Purifier?
UV air sanitizers use short-wave ultraviolet light to kill organic pollutants in the air. They are highly effective at eradicating harmful microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. The ultraviolet rays kill by “scrambling” the nuclear material of the microorganisms. This also damages their DNA and RNA, leaving them unable to reproduce.
This technology has been around for over 40 years, but UV sanitizers have seen a surge in popularity in the last decade. UV light is often used to kill microbes on the surfaces of furniture, cell phones, laptops, and medical equipment. UV air sanitizers couple that technology with a forced-air system to purify the air.
Standalone air purifiers are not designed to kill viruses or bacteria, but they are very effective at cleansing the air of most pollutants. They catch and contain pollen, dander, dust, hair, smoke, and more. They draw air through a HEPA filter to purify the air.
The Benefits of an Air Purifier vs. a UV Air Sanitizer
Air purifiers are ideal for households where people have allergies, asthma, or respiratory illness. They can also be beneficial in households with a lot of pets or heavy smokers. Air purifiers can cleanse the air of up to 90% of pollutants because that is what they are designed to do.
UV air sanitizers offer air cleansing as an afterthought. UV light is ineffective against dust and other particle pollutants, but most UV air sanitizers come with a HEPA filter to catch and contain debris.
UV air sanitizers are very important to households where a member has a compromised immune system. They are also gaining popularity as people become increasingly concerned about viruses. UV air sanitizers are highly effective at killing viruses and bacteria, from the flu virus to E.coli, and more. Getting cleaner air with these devices even allow the household to get better sleep!
Why an Air Purifier or UV Air Sanitizer Is Needed
Believe it or not, indoor air quality may actually be worse than the outdoor air quality. This is because indoor air is often a combination of polluted outdoor air plus additional pollution from indoor sources. Their home has a surprising number of pollution sources, including fuel-burning appliances, fresh paint, new carpeting, pets, and tobacco products.
Poor indoor air quality can cause immediate symptoms of itchy eyes, sore throat, headaches, dizziness, difficulty breathing, and fatigue. Indoor air pollution can also contribute to respiratory illness, heart disease, and cancer.
An air purifier will improve the health of the family by removing harmful pollutants from the air. A UV air sanitizer will protect a family from illness by killing viruses, bacteria, mold, and fungi while also providing some air filtering. Some models may offer additional air quality improvement by including humidifiers or dehumidifiers.
A professional HVAC technician can analyze the air quality needs of any home and help homeowners choose the system that will best improve the health of their home and family.
About The Plumbing & Air Service Co.
The Plumbing & Air Service Co. has been in the plumbing and HVAC industry since 1997. They have helped the residents of Greensboro, NC with air quality control, duct cleaning, and more. The Plumbing & Air Service Co. makes the customer their #1 priority and is proud to offer 24/7 emergency and same-day service.
