Your heating and air conditioning systems should (hopefully) have filters that help to block particles from coming through the vents. You may have heard that you should change your filters at least a few times a year, with some people urging filter replacements every month.
While changing your filter regularly is certainly important, is it really going to help with your most severe indoor air quality problems? Not necessarily. For indoor air quality control you can count on, you may need something a lot more powerful. Our technicians detail their suggestions below, but you can call our team to learn more.
Air Filtration: What Works and What Doesn’t
Our definition of an air filter or air filtration system is anything that uses media like fiberglass to trap particles, so that they cannot continue to move through the air. An air filter may sit in a return grille or near the filter, while a larger air filtration system would be installed within the ducts.
We believe a whole-house system is usually the best choice for air filtration that actually works. A plug-in air filtration system only helps to remove particles from that immediate area, while a filter or filtration system within the ducts treats the air continuously cycling back into your home.
However, there is such a thing as too powerful of a whole-house filtration system. The fibers used to catch particles can be tightly woven in order to trap the smallest, most harmful particles like mold spores and chemical residue, but they may block airflow as well, causing a lot of problems for the performance of your heating and cooling systems. That’s why it’s so important to ask a technician to help you select the right filtration system.
Air Purifiers: Some Options You May Find
What may be a better solution to your indoor air quality troubles is an electronic air purifier. Rather than using fibers or other media to clean the air, there are two ways an electronic air cleaner may do the job.
- Ionization – As particles in the air pass through an ionization chamber, they are given a charge. The charged particles do not go on to move through the air. Rather, they become attracted to a surface of the opposite charge. This could be a set of metal plates within the system or surfaces of your home, and either way, the process does not inhibit the flow of air.
- UV Light – A UV light air purifier uses ultraviolet rays to sterilize and kill microorganisms in the air. Some of the most harmful airborne contaminants are microorganisms like bacteria and viruses. Once they are hit with UV light, they become safe to breathe in.
Back to the Basics: Housekeeping
We know that whole-house air filtration and air purification systems help to keep homes healthier. Of course, a buildup of dust in your home can only make things worse. When you need to get your indoor air quality under control, you must take a whole-house approach, and that means ensuring the whole house stays clean.
Make sure your family members keep up with daily chores, and that hard-to-reach spots are also dusted or vacuumed weekly. Establish a “no shoes” rule, keep pets bathed, and do all you can to keep out dirt and allergens in the first place.
For indoor air quality services in Oxford, OH, call the professionals at Bartels Heating & Cooling.