If you aren’t worried about the air quality in your home, you should be. Unbeknownst to many homeowners, the air inside their homes is teeming with millions of microscopic pollutants and contaminants. Some of these tiny particles are harmless, but most are not. Dust, pollen, insect dander, pet dander, viruses, bacteria, and mold are just a few of the many kinds of air pollutants that can cause harm to the occupants of your home. So, what are you supposed to do about it? Well, the best way to address air quality problems is to use an air filter or purifier. Read on for a brief outline of the available air purification systems and their advantages.
Air Filters
Air filters are passive devices that are mostly just a finely woven fiber mesh stretched over a frame. These can be portable, or installed in the ducts to service the entire house. As particles encounter the air filter, they become trapped in the mesh. Meanwhile, the air flows through the filter unimpeded. Filters are great all-around choices, and can improve the air quality in almost any home. They do need to be cleaned on a regular basis, however, so as not to become clogged and lose their efficiency.
Ionization Filters
Ionization filters are air filters that use electricity to catch particles instead of fiber. An ionization filter generates an electric field around itself during operation. As particles pass through this field, they gain a negative charge that causes them to be attracted to the closed positively charged surface. Most ionization filters include metal plates inside the unit, which capture the charged particles. Then, the metal plates simply need to be removed and wiped clean to get rid of the particles. Ionization filters can capture a great many particles with their unique method. However, poor quality ones can also release ozone into the air, which is toxic. So, be sure that the filter you pick is of a high quality.
UV Germicidal Lights
UV germicidal lights capitalize on the vulnerability of many germs and molds to ultraviolet radiation. These lights give off short-wave ultraviolet radiation, which is harmless to humans but destroys the cell functions that allow these germs to reproduce. In some cases the germs are outright destroyed, while in others they are simply sterilized. Regardless, once exposed to this radiation they become unable to infect and sicken people. UV germicidal lights can really improve your health by sterilizing the air. However, they don’t have any way of affecting non-biological contaminants.
If you aren’t sure which filter to choose, call Air On Demand to speak with one of our specialists today. We provide professional air filtration services in the Pinecrest area.