How Air Purifiers Help Your Home
When you think of Summit Heating & Cooling, you probably think about us as your heating and cooling partner in Kansas City, MO. However, we know that there is more to your home comfort than maintaining the right temperature. Indoor air can have more pollutants than the air outside your home. Irritants like dust, dander and mold spores accumulate over time. Your home also has many sources that release volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, into the air. Air purifiers are an important tool to keep the air in your home clean.
Step 1: Removing Particles
Most whole-house heating and cooling systems have a filter to remove dust as it travels through your home. A standard air filter can remove most particles that are 10 microns or larger. To give a sense of scale, a human hair has a width of about 50 microns. Although this will remove a fair amount of dust from the air, many contaminants in your air will still make it through. An air purifying system will include stronger filters that remove even smaller particles from the air. Some of these filters can remove particles that are less than 1 micron in size.
Step 2: Removing Chemicals
VOCs have many sources. Whether its cigarette smoke or cooking oil, these chemicals are much too small to be filtered by normal means. Air purifiers have components that attract and trap these compounds. Some use activated charcoal, a porous material that traps molecules as they pass through. Others use ionization, creating an electric charge to attract the compounds. Removing VOCs not only cleans your air but also removes odors from your home.
Step 3: Remove Viruses and Bacteria
Some bacteria are large enough to be trapped by a strong filter. However, most bacteria and viruses are small enough to pass through. In order to remove the danger of these microorganisms, some air purifiers incorporate ultraviolet light. The frequency of this light kills or sterilizes most microorganisms.
If you are looking for a partner for your heating, cooling, or indoor air quality needs, turn to Summit Heating & Cooling in North Kansas City. It is our mission to keep your home clean and comfortable throughout the year. Contact us today for more information.
