Most people know how air filters and air purifiers can improve their indoor air quality. But air scrubbers are an excellent way to keep your home’s air clean by working with your air conditioning and heating system. Here’s what you need to know about air scrubbers – and how to know if you should reach out to your HVAC service provider about installing one.
The Benefits of Owning an Air Scrubber
Clean air is a vital part of keeping your home clean, safe, and comfortable. This is especially true if anyone in your home suffers from asthma or allergies, since irritants can linger in the air and exacerbate their symptoms.
Air scrubbers are about 50 times more powerful than normal HVAC filtration systems at capturing and eliminating airborne pathogens in your home. Within half an hour, most air scrubbers can eliminate about 90% of airborne pathogens in your home’s air.
Odor Control
Air scrubbers can also help remove odors without the need for air fresheners or candles (and the chemicals they introduce into your home).
Extend the Life of Your HVAC System
Since air scrubbers eliminate air pollutants, they reduce the workload on your HVAC system. This can extend your HVAC’s useful life and save energy at the same time. In that way, an air scrubber can reduce your electricity bills and lower your HVAC maintenance costs.
The Difference Between Air Scrubbers and Air Purifiers
Air purifiers filter out airborne particles. Air scrubbers go further than that. Some whole-home air scrubbers kill germs on surfaces like countertops and doorknobs by pulling germs off surfaces and sucking them into the HVAC system. They can then be filtered out of your home’s circulating air.
Types of Air Scrubbers
Whole-House
A whole-house air scrubber works with your HVAC system to keep your air clean. Clean air passes through your HVAC ductwork and through your home. Some whole-house air scrubbers also create negatively-charged ions that attract positively-charged contaminants.
Portable
Portable air scrubbers suck in dirty air and pass it through a series of intense filters. These start by trapping large particles like animal fur, then pass air through increasingly finer filters to eliminate increasingly small particles. Most models also have a carbon filter to eliminate odors.
How Much Maintenance Do Air Scrubbers Need?
Maintenance needs depend on what kind of air scrubber you have.
Portable air scrubbers have a lot of variation between models. You may have to change out different filters at different intervals. Always check the owner’s manual or manufacturer instructions to prolong the life of your air scrubber and keep it working at peak condition.
Whole-house air scrubbers use a UV light as the filter. The bulb should be replaced every 12 months. These are usually inexpensive – you can expect to spend about $10 to $15 on each bulb.
How to Install a Whole-House Air Scrubber
Contact a trusted HVAC service provider. They can help you choose the best one for your home and budget and give expert advice about maintenance.