What Are Your Options When Choosing Permanent Air Purification Systems?

Pollutants, mold, and mites cause a severely unhealthy environment inside your home. If you are exposed to such particles for long, you tend to suffer from bronchitis and lung malfunctioning.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) released into the air from paints, adhesives, and cleaning agents may irritate the eyes, throat, and nose. They also cause nausea, headache, lung cancer, and even death.

Once you install a clean air purifier for your home, it controls indoor pollution. When it comes to choosing a permanent air purification system, you get a variety of options.

Want to know what those options are? Find them below:

Activated Carbon Filters

These filters absorb molecules that cause odor using activated carbon. Some of them also use pleated filters to catch particles. Though such filters can deal with certain gases, they are not effective in handling nitrogen oxide, ammonia, and formaldehyde.

As activated carbon quickly saturates, you need to replace the filter after every three months spending $50 every time.

HEPA Filters

HEPA filters are made of excellent mesh and capable of collecting 99.97% of specific-sized particles. Such filters can even eradicate bigger particles such as pollen, dust, and certain mold spores when they are released into the air. Thus they can be an excellent choice for bacteria air purification. 

Remember, certain filters labeled ‘HEPA-type” or ‘HEPA-like” are not certified to meet genuine HEPA filter requirements but still work effectively in tests.

Mechanical Filters

These are pleated filters with air purifiers that pass air via a fibers web that capture particles. Unfortunately, mechanical filters can deal with gases and odors.

Moreover, these filters are quite expensive to use and maintain as you can replace them every six to twelve months. Mechanical filters can cost approximately from $80 to $200 per filter.

Electronic Air Purifiers

Electrostatic ionizers and precipitators charge air particles and stick to machine plates or choose surfaces with a magnetic kind of attraction.

But they produce ozone, making electronic air purifiers an unfavorable choice if you want a 100% ozone-free indoor environment.

Ozone Generators

They generate ozone which can react with some pollutants to change their chemical position. As the reaction causes hazardous indoor quality, you can avoid installing ozone generators inside your home. The machine manufacturers claim that the devices generate a limited level of ozone. According to the tests, some generators can quickly cross the limit of 0.05% for medical machines, even in low setups.

According to EPA studies, a limited amount of ozone, the key element of smog, does not adversely affect indoor pollutants. The studies have also shown that ozone hampers the long functionalities and increases the risks of chest pain, coughing, lung tissue swelling, and throat irritation. The chemical compound can also worsen bronchitis, emphysema, and asthma.

Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI) 

Certain manufacturers claim that UVGI air purifiers kill bacteria, airborne viruses, and fungal spores using UV lamps. Some mold spores and bacteria are resistant to UV rays. Thus, they can be an ideal clean air purifier for homes.

The UV light needs to be potent enough, and the emission should last for long (minutes or hours) rather than only a few seconds. Most of the UVGI air purifiers expose to light for a few seconds for effectiveness.

Photocatalytic Oxidation (PCO)

Photocatalytic Oxidation (PCO) uses UV rays and a photocatalyst like Titanium Dioxide to emit hydroxyl radicals which oxidize gaseous pollutants. The reaction can generate hazardous byproducts such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, formaldehyde, and ozone.

Many of the laboratories have tested the efficiency of PCO air purifiers. But one of the laboratories reported that PCO air purifiers do not easily remove Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) usually present in indoor air.

PECO, a PCO variant, recently emerged from the Molekule manufacturer. The laboratories tested the devices, but they did not pass pollen, smoke, and dust removal tests. Thus, you can avoid buying them for your home as they are not worth the money.

To live a healthy life, permanent air purification for home is crucial. If you plan to buy an air purification system for your home, you get a variety of options, as mentioned above.

Now, you know the benefits of each of these purification systems. So, identify your needs first and make a purchase accordingly.