You don’t want to share another Minnesota winter with the three D’s: dust, dander and disease. Therefore, you might want to consider buying and installing an air filter. But what kind of system should you buy? Electronic and ultraviolet air filters are two options available to help you enjoy cleaner and safer air in your home.
Electronic air filters work by placing an electronic charge on air contaminants, and then collecting them by running the mixture of air and charged contaminants through an oppositely polarized filter. Most of the particles will attach to the filter, and
those particles that make it through retain their charge, and can be captured on another cycle. This system works well for removing larger particulates like dust, pollen and pet dander, but it is not as effective on smaller contaminates like microorganisms.
Ultraviolet air filters are better than electronic air filters at removing these smaller germs because certain ultraviolet frequencies of light have been shown to kill these organisms by disrupting their DNA. But a micro-organism can put off its day of reckoning by hiding in a small crevasse on a piece of dust or pet dander. And even if a germ is unlucky enough to be disrupted by the ultraviolet light, you don’t want their tiny carcasses blowing around your living quarters. An ultraviolet system is most effective on air that has had most of its particulates removed.
Since ultraviolet air filters are not effective without an electronic or other type of filter system, it makes sense to purchase the electronic air filter if you can only afford to buy one. But if you are worried about micro-organisms in your home, you should consider purchasing both the ultraviolet filter and the electronic filter. That is the combination that can defeat the three D’s, and give you the most peace of mind.
If you would like to talk to a knowledgeable professional in the Twin Cities about your home’s air quality, contact Marsh Heating & Air Conditioning. We’ve been proudly serving residential and commercial customers for more than 33 years.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about electronic air filters and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Marsh Heating and Air Conditioning services Minnesota’s Twin Cities. Visit our websiteto see our special offers and get started today!