Air Purification System Basics

I’ve talked a lot in the past about air filtration and different types of air filters that remove particulates from the air to make for a better indoor environment. In this post, I want to look at types of air purification systems versus just air filters.

Purification systems do exactly what they sound like they would and depending on the type we can remove germs, odors, viruses, and even mold spores from the air stream of your home or business. Let’s look at some of the different devices that can make your home happier and healthier:

• Ultra Violet (UV) Light Systems:
  UV systems typically come in single or dual bulb applications. They are installed inside the cabinet of your air conditioner and do one thing and one thing only. They prevent biological or mold growth on the interior of your air conditioner. Everyone’s AC system will form mold spores if left without a UV light. When you stop and think about it, mold needs three things to be super happy. They are moisture, darkness and a food source thus making the interior of your air conditioner the perfect home. UV light bulbs will need to be changed either once a year or every other year depending on the bulb. After the bulbs allotted life time has expired it may still be glowing blue, however it is no longer emitting the UVC rays that act as the mold killer. Final note, if you have a UV system installed in your air conditioner, DO NOT ever look directly at the bulbs with the naked eye. UVC rays can cause eye burns that will take long periods of time to heal and are extremely painful.

• UV Lights + Honeycombs:
  Certain manufacturers produce a UV light system that comes with a honeycomb style membrane around the bulb. This membrane takes the moisture in the air, combined with the UV light and through a chemical reaction creates up to a 50 part per million hydrogen peroxide solution that is released into the air stream. This is the same hydrogen peroxide that we use on scrapes and cuts only in an aerosol form. The aerosolized hydrogen peroxide then settles on all the surfaces in the home or business effectively killing germs and viruses. The UV light portion of the program still gives you all the same benefits of keeping the AC unit mold free.

• UV Lights + Carbon Blocks:
  Once again this type of system provides the benefit of a clean air conditioner along with a great ability to control odors. Carbon is one of the most absorbent materials on the planet and it does a really great job of assimilating smells. The other great thing about this type of system is the UV light refreshes the carbon on a regular basis, so according to the manufacturer the carbon has an infinite life. I have used these types of systems in homes where the former owners were smokers or had large amounts of pets and they really do a great job of cleaning up the air.

These are just some of the types of air purification devices that are available to you, my intrepid homeowner, and the best advice I can give you when it comes to indoor air quality concerns is to drop me an email or give us a ring. As all our radio and TV commercials say on a regular basis, “Art Can Fix It!”

Until we meet again friends does anyone besides me find it odd the name of the phobia for fear of long words is “hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia”? Click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-V6FHWYtcg

House Whisperer out!!