Know Your Indoor Air Quality Systems

Find the Perfect Solutions for Your Home

Indoor air quality is an important aspect of our indoor comfort. Whether you’re at work or at home, you want the air you breathe to be free of allergens, irritants, pathogens, and other airborne contaminants and particulates. But when you look into ways to improve your indoor air quality, you may find yourself overwhelmed by the amount of options available. There are a lot of indoor air quality solutions on the market, and all of them are effective in their own ways.

Your home is unique, and so is the collection of airborne contaminants that reside within it. Choosing an indoor air quality system or device doesn’t come down to the best overall products, but the best products for your specific indoor climate. We asked our indoor air quality experts to break down the pros, cons, and functions of the most common types of IAQ products out there, so you can determine which systems and devices are best to address the direct threats to your family’s health and comfort.

Air Filters and Purifiers

Air filters and purifiers are the easiest and most standard forms of indoor air quality. These devices come in multiple forms, sizes, and types, ranging from standing units that can be moved around your home to installations inside your ducts and vents. Air filters and purifiers are the simplest, most affordable, and lowest-maintenance options available. Once installed, they force air to move through specialized filters that remove even the smallest particulates from circulation.

Pros

• Effective against pollutants and allergens
• Easy to maintain – just change the filter every few months
• Most can be installed without professional help
• Basic filters are cost-effective

Cons

• Less effective against mold and pathogens
• Only traps threats, does not destroy or neutralize them
• Larger filtration systems can get expensive

Air Sanitizers

Air sanitizers come in many varieties, but the most common use UV light to neutralize airborne threats. Unlike filters and purifiers which stop particles from circulating, sanitizers focus on rendering those particles harmless rather than keeping them contained within a filter. Air sanitizers are frequently used by homeowners who worry about exposure to viruses and bacteria, as they can kill those contaminants and other biological threats while other IAQ solutions can only remove them.

Pros

• Effective against viruses and bacteria
• Easy to install free-standing units
• Also fights mold and odors

Cons

• Units can be bulky
• In-duct units are difficult to install
• Some UV sanitizers can generate ozone as a side effect

Air Scrubbers

Air scrubbers and air cleaners combine the filtering process of purifiers with the total coverage of sanitizers. Best for eliminating mold and odors, these devices draw air through specialized neutralizing filters that come in wet and dry varieties. Additionally, there are “negative air” scrubbers on the market that release clouds of neutralizing ions into your home to combat contaminants as they circulate.

Pros

• Wide area of effect
• Most effective solution to mold and odors

Cons

• Some air quality experts believe they are less effective overall than filters and sanitizers
• Tend to be on the pricier side

Humidifiers and Dehumidifiers

Particulates aren’t the only things lingering in your air supply. Residual moisture from your air conditioner or dryness radiating from your heater can also affect your indoor comfort. Humidifiers and dehumidifiers can help you control the level of moisture in your air supply, ensuring that your family doesn’t melt in the heat or dry out in the cold.

Combine Systems to Customize Your Comfort

All indoor air quality systems have their unique benefits, and it can be hard to select just one to install in your home. But there’s good news – you don’t have to! Indoor air quality systems can be combined and customized to fit your home’s unique needs. Just consult with a licensed professional to make sure that everything is placed and installed correctly. A licensed indoor air quality expert can also help you decide which systems will work best together to get you the results you need.

Need Indoor Air Quality? Talk to your air conditioning repair experts at Airrific Air Conditioning & Heating today! Call (941) 371-3355.