Homeowners that are likely to invest in air purifiers in Glendale, CA have probably run into this conundrum before. What the heck is the difference between an air purifier and an air filter? And, more importantly, what does that difference mean for your home?
Well, luckily for you, our team is full of specialists on this matter. Air filters and air purifiers do target different types of contaminants in your air. While they both essentially keep your air clean, they do it in two very different ways.
Don’t just take our word for it. Keep reading as we go into the details of how each of these systems works and what they’re normally good for. Then, you’ll be able to make a better decision when deciding which system is right for your home. It could be an air purifier, an air filter, or perhaps both!
Air Purifiers
Whether they’re electric air purifiers or ultraviolet (uv) light air purifiers, these systems can eliminate contaminants from the air using purification techniques.
Electric air purifiers can remove indoor air contaminants by ionizing them in the air and collecting them on a metal disc. By using magnetic fields and ionization, things like bacteria or dust can be collected and cleaned out of your air.
UV light purifiers are a slightly more powerful solution for homes. They utilize a mounted ultraviolet light in your air ducts that can eliminate bacteria, viruses, mold spores, and other contaminants that would otherwise be too small to collect or clean away. UV lights use ultraviolet radiation that’s similar to the sun’s rays. This can be harmful to microorganisms but relatively harmless to us. And to make things even better, the light is mounted in your ductwork so you never have to come in contact with it!
Air Filters
Air filters, such as HEPA filters, are mounted in your ductwork in a similar way to your UV air purifier but with a major difference. They don’t eliminate contaminants. Instead, they collect contaminants that are of a certain size or larger in the web of their microscopic material. These contaminants can then be washed away when the air filter is replaced or cleaned.
Air filters simply filter your air while air purifiers eliminate the harmful particles in the air that might look to infect you.
What System Is Right for You?
This question is going to be particular to your specific home comfort needs. If you struggle with larger particles in the air that make you uncomfortable, like dust, debris, hair, pet dander, and other contaminants, then an air filter could be better for your home. However, if you’re constantly sneezing, getting sick, feeling the adverse effects of mold, and seeing it everywhere, then an air purifier could help you more.
Did we mention that you could utilize both systems at the same time? Air purification and filtration are not exclusive to one another. You can filter your air of contaminants like dust and debris, while also eliminating harmful microorganisms in your air ducts. When you combine these two powerful forces, you can create a haven in your home that is free from anything that might make your indoor air uncomfortable.
Call JMS Air Conditioning and Heating today for your new indoor air quality system set-up.
