The EPA believes that indoor air quality ranks as one of the top five environmental health risks because of the countless particles that can get trapped inside of a house. These particles then float around, just waiting to cause health problems like headaches, sore throats and asthma.
Ventilation isn’t always possible. Cleaning the air electronically may be a better option. There are a number of factors to think about when looking for electronic air cleaners.
- Typical electronic air cleaners ionize the air passing through, and then have oppositely-charged sheets where the newly-ionized particles stick. These sheets need cleaning from the dust that will accumulate.
- Some electronic air cleaners do not have the metal collection sheets. These send the ionized particles back into the air where they will stick to a nearby surface, requiring extra dusting.
- Watch out for ozone production. Many electronic air cleaners will also ionize oxygen molecules, producing a gas called ozone, a lung irritant. Look for a model that will minimize ozone production.
- Decide whether or not you want a fan. Electronic air cleaners with fans will move and clean a lot more air. A fan, however, might be a noisy distraction, especially if you’re just purifying one room.
- You might combine an electronic air cleaner with other types of filters. For example, ionizing the air will make a HEPA filter work far more effectively for small particles. If biological contaminants like mold and bacteria are your problem, look for a germicidal lamp to kill them. A carbon filter can be used to capture fumes and other combustion-related chemicals. This also helps get rid of unwanted smells.
Electronic air cleaners are a great way to create a healthy living environment. With all the options available, it is important to look for an expert opinion. If you have any questions, feel free to contact the professionals at Donald P. Dick Air Conditioning. We are always glad to help.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information, click here to download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Donald P. Dick Air Conditioning services the greater Fresno area in California. To get started, check out our website.