Air Purifiers vs. Air Filtration: Which One is Right for You in the Greater Sacramento Area?

You might think that the air quality inside your home is clean and healthy, but statistics show otherwise. More than 50 million Americans are affected by different types of allergies every year.

Whether you’re part of the statistics or not, it’s becoming increasingly essential to invest in clean air in your home, office, school, or healthcare facility. If you have a heating and cooling system in the greater Sacramento area, you already have an air filter, but is an air filter enough to keep your home or office indoor air quality, or should you buy an air purifier?

At Ace Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning, we recommend having both. We will also highlight reasons, but let’s first understand how each works.

Air Filters

An air filter is a type of mesh designed to sieve pollutants like mold, dust, allergens, and bacteria. All HVAC systems use filters that trap large pollutants floating in the air. When the air is mechanically forced through the AC unit, the holes in the filter stop the large particles from going back into the room and circulating throughout. The tinier the holes, the more efficient the system.

Types of Air Filters

Today, there exist several types of air filters. Here are some of the most common:

• HEPA filters: High-Efficiency Particulate Air Filters are known to trap 99.97 of particles as small as 0.3 microns.
• Fiberglass: They are disposable filters that trap pollutants in layers of fiberglass material.
• Washable filters: They’re effective and affordable filters that can be used for a long time due to their washable feature.
• Activated carbon: They’re highly porous and great at trapping matter. You can also use them as secondary filters.

Air Purifiers

Air purifiers are devices used to remove pollutants from the atmosphere to improve the air quality you breathe. They utilize stronger, denser filters that effectively remove a wide range of particles from the air.

Types of Air Purifiers

Here are the most common types of air purifiers:

• UV light purifiers: These purifiers utilize Ultra-Violet (UV) light to kill bacteria and viruses present in the atmosphere and render them harmless.
• Ionic air purifiers: They create an electrical field to charge ions positively or negatively and attach themselves to the bacteria in the air. Once connected, they can remove them from the air.
• Chemical purifiers: These purifiers use chemicals to attack and break down viruses and bacteria components depending on the chemical and type of pollutant.

Air Purifiers vs. Air Filtration: Which one is Right for You?

Our simple answer to this question is “both.”

Whether you prefer air filters or air purifiers, it’s clear that you need both. Air purifiers may have the best methods of dealing with allergens and bacteria. They can trap, kill, neutralize, and remove these pollutants from the air you breathe. However, they have limits to what they can do. They cannot trap mold, pollen, or dust mites heavier than air and can sink to the ground and get trapped in floor coverings. You need air filters to remove such pollutants to achieve a pollutant-free atmosphere.

Let Us Help You Improve Your Indoor Air Quality

If you’re looking for air filtration or air purification services in the greater Sacramento area, we’ve got you covered. AtHome Ace Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning, we have the tools, skills, and knowledge needed to improve your air quality.Contact Call us to book your appointment with us to learn more about air filters and air purifiers and how we can help you improve your indoor air quality.