If you’re in the market for an air cleaner, you’ll want to know your options. There are quite a few of them, both in terms of scale and technology. But first, why would you need an air cleaner? If you or someone in your household has allergies, an air cleaner can be a good backup to reduce allergen sources in your home. Plus, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has found that in modern, relatively airtight homes, the indoor air may be two to five times dirtier on average than the air outside.
Effective Air Cleaning Options
Electrostatic recessed air cleaners are cost-effective whole-house options for many homes. They resemble register vents and are usually hidden in a return air box installed discreetly in a wall or ceiling. They’re not tied directly to your forced-air HVAC equipment, which makes installation relatively easy.
As household air moves through the return vent, the system traps gases and airborne particulates, using a polarizing process and activated carbon filter. Maintenance is relatively simple, such as cleaning and replacing the air filter every month or two.
Other air cleaning systems that utilize electrostatic attraction to filter indoor air can be connected directly to the HVAC equipment and installed between the return ductwork and the air handler or blower. During installation, care should be taken to seal connections tightly to avoid air leaks. Many of these systems combine electrostatic technology with a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter.
Standalone air cleaners that employ HEPA filtration also can be effective, though they’re usually not effective for whole-house air cleaning.
A variety of air filtering options also are available with different technologies and levels of effectiveness. They include hybrid filters, gas-phase filtration and ozone generators. Make sure you research your options well and ask a professional for advice before making a final decision on an air-cleaning system.
For more information on which air cleaner will work the best to improve air quality in your Twin Cities home, please contact us at Marsh Heating & Air Conditioning.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about air cleaners and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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