Electronic Air Cleaners
How is the air quality in your Maryland, Virginia or Washington, DC home? According to the EPA, it could be worse than you think – a study done in 1999 showed that indoor levels of pollutants could be 2 – 5 times higher than outdoor levels. In some cases, levels were 100 times higher than outdoors! If you suffer from allergies attributed to poor indoor air quality, don’t wait – call Magnolia Heating & Air Conditioning to install an electric air cleaner in your home today!
Electronic Air Cleaner Installation
If you are thinking about installing an electronic air cleaner in your home, you have a variety of options to choose from. Each type of electronic air cleaner works slightly differently but all will help improve your indoor air quality dramatically.
HEPA electronic air cleaners
HEPA stands for “High Efficiency Particulate Arrestor”. It is a type of air filter for electronic air cleaners, air purifiers and even high quality vacuum cleaners. Most HEPA electronic air cleaners operate at efficiency ratings of 99.97% and can filter out particles as small as .3 microns in size, including dust, smoke, pollen, pet dander, dust mites, etc (for reference, the eye of a needle is 750 microns wide!). If you want even more air cleaning, opt for a HEPA electronic air cleaner with a UV light system. These electronic air cleaners will not only trap allergens but will kill any viruses, bacteria and fungi that hit the filter.
One thing to note with HEPA electronic air cleaners is that while they are highly effective at pulling pollutants out of the air, their range of effectiveness is basically limited to the room they are in. Many people who have installed HEPA electronic air cleaners have them in bedrooms as well as home offices and family rooms. Also, if you are thinking about installing a HEPA electronic air cleaner, try to find one with a relatively high number of exchanges per hour (eight is a good starting point, and anything higher is better). Anything less than this will probably not make a noticeable difference in your indoor air quality.
Ozone-ionizer electronic air cleaners
Ozone-ionizer electronic air cleaners are often confused with HEPA electronic air cleaners – in reality, however, they operate quite differently. In fact, ozone-ionizer electronic air cleaners don’t even rely on filters! Ozone-ionizer electronic air cleaners create ozone which penetrates the cell structure of the odor, bacteria or viruses, rupturing the cell wall of the contaminant and destroying them. Ozone-ionizer electronic air cleaners are highly effective against cigar and cigarette smokers.
After the ozonation process has occurred, the ozone-ionizer electronic air cleaner begins the process of ionization (see how creative the name is?). There are two types of ionization:
- Needlepoint ionization involves negatively charging the air directly in front of the electronic air cleaner. The negatively charged air molecules then attach themselves to any pollutants in the air, dropping them down to the ground. Needlepoint ionizers usually operate within a five to seven ft radius of the electronic air cleaner.
- Radio ionization uses specialized (and safe) radio waves that ioniz the air in a 50 ft radius. Electronic air cleaners that use radio ionization can operate through walls. In some cases, one single electronic air conditioner can cover an entire home!
When choosing an electronic air cleaner, the biggest thing to consider is what you plan on using it for – HEPA electronic air cleaners are highly effective against airborne allergens and things like mold, bacteria and viruses. Ozone-ionizer electronic air cleaners are most effective against smoke and odors.
Selecting an Electronic Air Cleaner, Air Filter or Air Purifier
If you want to improve the indoor air quality in your home or office, an electronic air cleaner, air filter or air purifier is an advanced, low-maintenance solution. Factors you should consider when purchasing an electronic air cleaner include:
- Filter Type
- Noise Level
- Fan Speed
- Controls
- Room Size
No matter what your indoor air quality needs are, Magnolia Heating & Air Conditioning is committed to not only keeping your home or office the right temperature, but also to making it as clean and comfortable as possible. We carry air cleaners from leading manufacturers such as Trane, Carrier, Lyon & Conklin and Duncae, but we repair and service all makes and models.