Indoor air pollution is known as to be one of the top 5 environmental risks to the fitness of the public. To those who thought you're safe in your house - you have already been fooled, but do not worry this is often reversed.
Every home today has an air-con and/or heating system. Whatever the kind of system you utilize to cool and/or heat your house, air is constantly being supplied to you in order for you to be comfortable. In HVAC systems air travels through a duct system, again and again, in order that a desired temperature is reached and maintained during your home. Even though air is being filtered throughout this technique not all of it really is filtered properly and some airborne pathogens are sneaking their way into your house.
In regards to the hotter months the HVAC system is pumping out cool air constantly so that people can escape from heat. Cooling systems take the warm air from the home, turn it into cool air and it goes back where it belonged, only colder. Since your air-con is running 24 hours a day it could put you and your family at a higher risk in catching a virus or infection especially to those who find themselves more vulnerable (elderly, children, those with asthma and/or allergies).
The only way to control quality of air and eliminate any dangerous pathogens in your house is to think about the use of another air purification system for the HVAC unit.
What exactly does an "air cleanser" do?
Air purification systems, either standalone units or units that are mounted to an HVAC system, remove gas and/or particle contaminants from the air. While increasing the quality of air within the house they also decrease the risk of viruses nestling in your homes looking forward to you to breathe them in.
As air is lifted out of your home to the vents it really is filtered by your HVAC system. However, not all contaminants are considered. If you think about any of it, air is continuously being sucked through the ducts for it to be cooled. Once it is cooled it really is then pushed back again to your house. Particles can stay in your duct system without your consent. The new cool air that you are getting could potentially be contaminated since it had to feed the duct system to be able to reach you. HVAC systems do filter the air, however, not all particles are caught in the filter. Dust, pollen, pet dancer, mold spores, and dust mite stools are only a few contaminants that can potentially be breathed in by your household.
Just because you be sure to dust everyday will not imply that everything is "clean". Where do you consider all that dust went after you wiped it off of the television?
My recommendation would be to consider one of these brilliant types of air purification systems, or a combination of a few, in order to make sure that indoor air quality is maintained inside your home.
1. Thermodynamic Sterilization System - Just a fancy name for heat sterilization. Air passes through this system and heat can be used as a way to destroy microorganisms. This is simply not a "filtering" technology. Indoor air quality kills any microorganism by use of heat. Although it may kill parasites, it will also kill almost any microorganism which could potentially be considered a problem. This standalone unit is designed round the footage of a certain room. It uses electricity to use and maintain quality of air. If you are seeking to improve quality of air in more than one room, and if you have a big home, you will have to consider purchasing more than one.
2. UV Lights- These UV lights are specifically installed within the ducts of your HVAC system. As air is blown, cool or warm, to your house these UV lights send out short wavelengths of light as a way to disintegrate microorganisms. The UV light sterilizes, reduces growth and also protects the home owners from sucking in any parasites that made it past the air filters inside your HVAC system.
3. Photocatalytic Oxidation (PCO) - A couple of years ago it was considered a "new" emerging technology in the HVAC industry. This specific air purification system uses UV light so as to energize the catalyst. The catalyst then oxidizes the harmful pollutants. Because the pollutants are increasingly being overwhelmed with oxygen, they die. Gas pollutants and odors are destroyed but other pollutants, such as dust, are still living rent free in your ducts.
4. HEPA Filters - HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters are made up of randomly arranged fibers composed of fiberglass. These specific filters are created to target smaller pollutants. Most air purification systems can filter gasses and/or odor molecules however they are "too large" for HEPA. These specific filters make sure that the smaller microorganism gets caught reducing the spread of airborne pathogens. HEPA filters can be combined with the above technologies so as to maintain premium air quality.
So the answer is YES. Air purification systems are essential in your home particularly if you are being given cool and/or warm air by an HVAC system.
The air you breathe in from outside is completely not the same as the filtered air that you are being supplied with in your home. You would believe the air outside is more harmful, but the simple truth is that normally the air outdoors is better than the air in your home.
It is very important:
a. MAINTAIN - ensure that your HVAC system is checked two times a year by way of a professional technician using a 24 point inspection. They will make certain everything is running correctly and can also check to see if your ducts are clean. Having your ducts cleaned one per year can reduce your risk to any airborne pathogens that can enter your home. Maintenance goes quite a distance, be proactive!
b. ELIMINATE - Ensure you have some sort of air purification system, or a combination of systems. You need to ensure that any harmful pathogen is eliminated and is not living rent free in your house. By eliminating any bacteria and/or mold you're also making sure that your HVAC system is running efficiently.
c. VENTILATE - On a cool day, open your windows! Let some fresh air in your home and switch off your air conditioning. The fresh air, especially if you will find a breeze, can pull all those harmful pathogens outside. Just a little fresh air never hurt anyone.