Are Air Purifiers Worth It?
Air purifiers are one of the newest crazes. It's easy to see why! They promise to filter out all those airborne pollutants that you don't want to be breathing in. But, are air purifiers worth your hard-earned money?
How Does an Air Purifier Work?
Air purifiers work by having, at the very basis, a filter and a fan to circulate air. As air enters the air purifier via the fan, it will go through the filter. This filter traps unwanted airborne debris like dust, dirt, pet dander, and mold spores.
Filters can use fiberglass, paper, or even mesh. Some air purifiers may have many filters and may need frequent changes. This helps to ensure the utmost filtering capability. This is important to consider when deciding if an air purifier is a worthy investment for your home. You'll also want to factor in the cost of its replacement filters and operational costs.
What is a HEPA Filter?
HEPA stands for high efficiency particulate air filter. This is a common filter that is capable of trapping 99.97% of airborne particles that are .3 microns or bigger. HEPA filters use very fine fiberglass threads housed in a plastic or metal frame.
HEPA filters capture all different sizes of particles. Large particles impact the fiberglass threads and become trapped. For mid-sized particles, they touch a thread and become entangled. Thus, the filter intercepts them from entering your home. The filter captures fine-sized particles with diffusion. The particle hits one of the fibers and sticks as its zig-zagging.
Air Purifier Must-Have Features
One necessary rating of any air purifier is its CADR, also known as its clean delivery rate. This measures how soon it can get rid of unwanted airborne particles like smoke, pollen, and dust. Any good purifier will have a CADR of 300 or more. The best will have a rating of 350. Whole-home HVAC purification systems will not sport this type of rating.
Ensure that you're choosing a purifier that fits the entire space you're looking to filter. If you're looking to get air purification in a single room of your home, you'll need its square footage. But there are also whole-home purification systems that work with your HVAC system. If that interests you, consult one of our HVAC professionals for sizing requirements.
Another must-have feature of any great purification system is a HEPA filter. These filters are effective for removing the most amount of unwanted airborne debris. Regardless of the type of purification system, make sure that you use HEPA filters. Additionally, be sure that you keep extra filters on hand. That way, you can keep up with filter changes to ensure optimal air quality in your home.
Call Us Today
If you're interested in investing in a whole-home air purifier for your home, then it's time to give us a call. Let our HVAC professionals help you find the right purification system for you.
