From filters to UV lights to charcoal to candles that claim to clean the air, homeowners have many different options for air quality improvement and air cleaning. However, as you can imagine, some of the options are much more likely to improve your air quality than others.
Here are four criteria to check for when you’re looking for the right air purification device for your home.
1. Make Sure Your UV Doesn’t Produce Ozone
UV lights are a common way to help purify air both as standalone units and attached to air filtration devices. Some are much stronger than others, and you might think that getting the strongest UV light possible is a plus, since UV light can kill microbes such as bacteria in the air.
However, UV lights can also produce ozone. And while ozone can make the air smell fresh, too much of this substance can actually be detrimental to your health. So be sure to choose a UV light product that’s designed with coated UV lamps so that it won’t produce any ozone.
2. Look for Quantifiable Data
Even an air cleaning unit that has a definite positive effect on air quality isn’t good enough. You need to know exactly how much air the unit can clean in a specific period of time, so that you can be sure to put the right amount of air cleaning power in each room.
In addition, to correctly compare units, you need quantifiable data on how much each one can affect the air (for example, what percentage of particles each one removes from the air, or what size particles it can remove). If a unit doesn’t have studies and scientific data to provide you this information, you’ll be unable to compare against similar units.
So look for the air purification devices that have plenty of studies and testing (ideally by third parties) and that have lots of information about cubic feet per minute, air changes per hour, particulate size, filter lifespan, and more. The more information you can find, the better your chances of making a well-informed decision.
3. Make Sure Claims Aren’t Too Good to Be True
You’ve probably heard the saying that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. In your search for the perfect air cleaning device, be sure to rule out any that make extravagant claims (especially ones you can’t easily verify from independent sources). It may sound great, but common sense says the claims are probably an exaggeration at best.
4. Check That Filters Are True HEPA
HEPA filters are great for getting even tiny particles out of your air. But finding a real HEPA filter can be tricky, since you have to navigate around a lot of products that sound like they have HEPA filters and actually don’t. For instance, a product that has a HEPA-type or HEPA-grade filter doesn’t have a true HEPA filter at all. So look for the words “true HEPA†to be sure.
These four criteria will help you navigate the confusing waters of the air purification device market. If you need more help figuring out which air filtration equipment is right for your home, talk to your HVAC contractor about your needs and the products you’ve been considering.
If you live in the Minneapolis or St. Paul area, Apollo Heating & Air Conditioning can help you find the right air purification for you. Give us a call today to learn more about our services and what we offer our clients. We’re confident that we can make your home a more pleasant and healthy place to live.
