After buying a house, many homeowners add different amenities to the building to make it more like a home they would want to live in. Some people update the HVAC system in the home or add second bathrooms. A popular addition many homeowners get, especially the health-conscious ones, is a system for purifying air. But it can be a challenge to find the ideal system.
In this article, air quality experts share some insight into UV air sanitizers and air purifiers.
How Do UV Air Sanitizers & Purifiers Work?
The two types of machines most popular for cleaning air are air purifiers and UV air sanitizers. While both systems remove pollutants and contaminants from the air, they work differently from each other. An air purifier uses electricity or ionization to charge up pollutant molecules in the air and then uses that charge to suck the molecules into the unit. The contaminants can then be cleaned out of the unit at a later date.
While also able to clear pollutants, UV air sanitizers are better known to clear living contaminants, such as bacteria, out of the air. The system does this by setting off a low frequency of UV rays into the air. This is the same type of radiation that comes from the sun. The rays attack living molecules in the air and kill them, preventing them from spreading.
Which One Is Better?
The type of system a homeowner chooses depends on what their main concern is. Air purifiers are efficient at cleaning up contaminants such as dust or other non-living particles such as smoke. Still, they aren’t as efficient at picking up living contaminants such as bacteria or mold that has gotten into the air. Air purifiers have also been around longer than UV air sanitizers, so they have a better guarantee at usefulness and air purifying rate.
While air purifiers work well, UV air sanitizers catch more contaminants in the air. The biggest drawback of a UV air sanitizer is the fact that it uses UV rays. These rays are a type of radiation known to cause skin cancer when coming from the sun. While this could be cause for alarm in some people, the frequency emitted from a UV air sanitizer is so low that it wouldn’t affect inhabitants in the home. Still, in areas where residents are prone to skin cancer, an air purifier might seem like a better choice.
Why Have an Air Sanitizer or Air Purifier Installed?
Many people might not see a need for air cleaning in their homes. While not very common, the location of the home and current health concerns could be reasons for buying an air cleaner. People living in areas with many pollutants in the air, such as big cities or climates that tend to trap particles in the air, are more in need of an air purifier. Such climates would be humid ones, and come along with pollen and mold if one isn't careful.
Along with those concerns, people with asthma or breathing problems are more in need of air cleaners. This is because these health issues can make lungs sensitive, so while the average person might not be affected by a few dust particles getting into their lungs, those with preexisting medical breathing conditions can’t afford the same carelessness. Either way, clean air leads to healthier lungs and even more restful sleep.
Trust a Local HVAC Expert
Easco Air Conditioning and Heating have provided upfront pricing and quality services to Huntsville for more than thirty years. With expert technicians in the air conditioning and heating industry, Easco Air Conditioning and Heating is always willing to come and serve.
