Types Of Air Filtration Systems

Types of Air Filtration Systems for Your Home

Indoor air pollutants are unwanted, sometimes harmful materials in the air. Indoor air pollution is among the top five environmental health risks. Usually the best way to address this risk is to control or eliminate the sources of pollutants, and to ventilate a home with clean outdoor air. The ventilation method may, however, be limited by weather conditions or undesirable levels of contaminants contained in outdoor air. If these measures are insufficient, an air cleaning device may be useful. Air cleaning devices are intended to remove pollutants from indoor air.

EcoMech recommends the air cleaning devices designed to be installed in the ductwork of a home’s central heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC) system to clean the air in the whole house. The whole house approach.

What types of air pollutants can an air cleaner remove from the air?

There are several types of air pollutants that an air cleaner can remove from the air of your home. Let’s look into the different types of pollutants first.

Indoor Air Pollutants

Pollutants fall into these categories:

• Particulate matter includes dust, smoke, pollen, animal dander, tobacco smoke, particles generated from combustion appliances such as cooking stoves, and particles associated with tiny organisms such as:
  • dust mites
  • molds
  • bacteria
  • viruses
• Gaseous pollutants come from combustion processes. Sources include gas cooking stoves, vehicle exhaust and tobacco smoke. They also come from:
  • building materials
  • furnishings
  • the use of products such as
    • adhesives
    • paints
    • varnishes
    • cleaning products
    • pesticides

Particle Removal of Pollutants

Two types of air cleaning devices can remove particles from the air — mechanical air filters and electronic air cleaners. Mechanical air filters remove particles by capturing them on filter materials.

High efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters are in this category. Electronic air cleaners such as electrostatic precipitators use a process called electrostatic attraction to trap charged particles. They draw air through an ionization section where particles obtain an electrical charge. The charged particles then accumulate on a series of flat plates called a collector that is oppositely charged. Ion generators, or ionizers, disperse charged ions into the air, similar to the electronic air cleaners but without a collector. These ions attach to airborne particles, giving them a charge so that they attach to nearby surfaces such as walls or furniture, or attach to one another and settle faster.

You know how important breathing is, but if your indoor air quality is not up to par, it can impact your health. No joke. Here are your options for air filtration. They range from HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filtration—which hospitals use because of the high level of air quality they produce, down to basic filters that need to be replaced every month:

Air Cleaners/Purifiers

There are hundreds of air cleaners and purifiers. It can be overwhelming learning about each one on your own. So don’t. Give us a call today and allow us to work with you in picking out your whole home air cleaning filtration system.

Keep in mind that specific contaminants like microbes, viruses, bacteria, tobacco smoke, pollen, allergens, dust, ash, and dirt particles, are all forces to be reckoned with. For example, if you have asthma or allergies, going into battle against these enemies with a basic air filter is similar to defending your home with a squirt gun. You may as well hand the keys over and cancel the party you’d planned with your allergist. The worst particles will overtake your home and enhance these health issues.

HEPA Filters

HEPA stands for High Efficiency Particulate Air, and it’s the crème de la crème of air filtration.

For air enthusiasts, HEPA filtration is the only way. Featuring a sealed design, these top-shelf air filters remove 99.97% of air contaminants, including gases emitted by adhesives, paints, and some fabrics. That’s why hospitals and science labs—run by experts that are focused on a healthy environment and avoiding contamination—use HEPA filters.

In addition, according to studies, watching your exposure to indoor allergens and environmental tobacco smoke may prevent 65% of asthma cases among elementary school-aged children, while limiting “biological contaminants” like dust mites could help reduce asthma cases 55-60%. HEPA to the rescue!

HEPA filters can reduce:

• Tobacco Smoke
• Pollen
• Allergens
• Dust
• Ash
• Dirt Particles

Again, when learning about each of the filters and what they remove and what they can’t? Don’t go it alone. Call us today and set up an appointment.