It can start with just a sniffle, and then become much more. Poor air quality in a home can be a silent intruder. You may not make the connection at first, but then stuffy noses seem to occur more often, headaches start to be a regular problem when they didn’t before, and respiratory issues start to plague your family.
Air pollutants, like mold, dust, and volatile organic compounds from paints or cleaners can cause both short-term and long-term health issues. Humidity, which we’re all very familiar with here in Florida, also plays a factor in how allergens can impact your indoor air quality.
At Air Tech of Central Florida, we understand the importance of good indoor air quality and make it a priority whenever we visit a home to ensure that family can breathe easy. Clean air should be a given, and when you’re putting your head on the pillow at night, you shouldn’t have to wonder how clean your home’s air might be.
Keeping your air free of mold and mildew has another important benefit… protecting your home investment. Mold spores being moved around by HVAC systems can attach and start to spread in moist areas, causing severe damage to your home’s structural components over time.
Indoor air can be deadlier than outdoor air (CNBC)
While we generally think of “air pollution” as an outdoor issue from car exhausts or factories, the fact is that indoor air quality is more problematic than that outside. And where do most people spend most of their time? Inside! People that live in cities are indoors breathing inside air about 90% of the time.
But, if you know how to keep your air clean, you can keep your family safe and protect your home from long-term mold and mildew damage.
How Can I Improve My Home’s Air Quality?
What can you do to make sure the air you’re breathing at home is clean? There are a number of things that will have a cumulative effect to improve the quality of the air inside your home. These include:
- Ensure good ventilation, especially in cooking areas
- Keep AC filters clean
- Choose furniture and flooring carefully (check for low VOC)
- Keep floors mopped and vacuumed regularly
- Control humidity (between 30%-50% is recommended)
- Use an air filtration system
Our Air Tech of Central Florida Air Quality Team is asked often about the best way to ensure good indoor air quality. Families want something that’s reliable, easy to use, and that they don’t have to think about.
Air purifiers can kill up to 99% of bacteria, viruses, and mold.
Air filtration systems, also called air purifiers, make cleaning your air easy and are also something you can install and enjoy. They work in the background to keep your air clean without needing much attention.
There are a few main types of air purifiers, each that work a little differently, and we’ll talk about those next.
5 Types Of Air Purifiers And What They Do
We work with multiple types of air purifiers and can help you make the best choice for your home and budget. Here are five of the main types of air filtration systems and what they each do to clean indoor air.
In-duct Filters
Most everyone is familiar with changing their air filters. These types of purifiers pass air from your HVAC system through the filter to remove particulates and are typically installed between the air return duct and furnace or the air return vents in each room.
They can be made of foam, cotton, or synthetic fibers. Pleated filters are usually best due to the increased surface area for catching particles.
High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) Filter
How is a HEPA filter different than other filters? HEPA filters meet specific Department of Energy standards for removing particles from the air. This type of filter must consist of materials that have a penetration of less than 0.03% of particles 0.3 micrometers in size or larger.
Ionizing Purifiers
This type of air purifier creates charged molecules called ions. It works by attracting larger particles in the air, like dust, with two metal plates, one positively charged, and one negatively charged. The purifier causes the particulates to start clumping together, get heavier, and settle out of the air.
UV Air Purifier
We usually think of UV as the rays coming from the sun that we wear suntan lotion to protect against. But UV can also be used to purify your home. UV purifiers use electromagnetic radiation to kill bacteria and other pathogens that are in the air. A downside is that they’re not really effective at cleaning dust or allergens, like smoke or chemical fumes.
Carbon Filtration (Absorbers)
Certain air purifiers use absorbent materials, activated charcoal being one of the most popular. Their extremely porous nature gives them a large surface area and can absorb large amounts of allergens and other contaminants, while taking up little room space. These units work best in conjunction with a HEPA filter.
Breathe Easier with Cleaner Air!
Protect your home and your family with proper air filtration in your home. It’s easier than you might think. Air Tech of Central Florida’s friendly technicians can sit down with you, show you the best air purifiers that give you the best value, and help you sleep easier at night.
Take the first step to cleaner air by contacting us today! Call (407) 901-2777 or reach out online.
Author Bio:
Luigi Ferraro
Specializing in residential and commercial HVAC services, Air Tech offers a wide range of solutions to meet the heating and cooling needs of their customers. Their team of skilled technicians is trained to handle the installation, repair, and maintenance of HVAC systems with expertise and precision.
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