Do You Really Need an Air Purifier?
Air purifiers help improve indoor air quality and reduce the risk of allergies. But do you really need one when your HVAC system already has good air filters? While air filters remove large dust particles, they’re not geared toward preventing allergies. If you have allergies or pets in the home, an air purifier might be worth investing in.
In this post, our air conditioning technicians at Schmitt discuss the limitations of air filters as well as the advantages of installing them.
The Primary Purpose of Air Filters
The primary function of your AC unit’s air filter is to prevent large particles from entering your system. Since the filters are made of mesh, they’re unable to remove bacteria and other microscopic contaminants.
Do You Really Need An Air Purifier?
Whether or not you need an air purifier really depends on your needs. If you have allergies or pets, an air purifier can significantly improve indoor air quality. Even if you don’t have any allergies, an air purifier is still a smart investment. This is because, according to the EPA, indoor air pollution is one of the top five environmental risks to public health.
Choosing an Air Purifier
If you’re considering installing an air purifier, you should do your research before choosing one. Not all air purifiers provide the same level of protection from airborne pollutants, after all. What are the things you should look for in an air purifier?
- Air changes per hour – This metric measures how many times an air purifier can turn over the air in an hour and gives you an idea of its filtration capacity. Don’t forget to take into account the size of the room where you’ll be installing the air purifier, as this can affect said metric.
- Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) – The higher the unit’s CADR rating, the faster it can purify the air in a room.
- High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) Filter – The gold standard for air purifiers, HEPA filters can remove particles as small as 0.3 microns. (Dust particles are 0.5 to 3 microns in size.)
If you’re having trouble choosing an air filter, consult an experienced HVAC service company.
Are you looking for experienced HVAC technicians in your area?
Schmitt has been providing professional heating and cooling services to local residents since 1876. For inquiries, call us at (415) 522-0966 or fill out this form. We serve homeowners in San Francisco, CA, as well as the surrounding communities.
