Grand Junction, CO, has a longstanding reputation for good air quality. However, in recent years, everything from western wildfires to gas and oil extraction has started to change that. As a result, many homeowners here now pay far more attention to the air quality in their homes than they once did.
That’s a big reason why we offer indoor air quality solutions. There are several technologies you can use to improve your home’s air quality. Air scrubbers are among the least known. So, here’s an overview of air scrubbers and the role they play in removing allergens and pathogens from indoor air.
What Is an Air Scrubber?
As their name suggests, air scrubbers are mechanical devices that remove harmful substances from the air. Residential models typically work as an add-on to your home’s HVAC system. They work to clean the air as it passes through your home’s ductwork. Air scrubbers do an excellent job of removing things like dander, pollen, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from your air. That’s not all, however.
Some more advanced air scrubbers also help sanitize your home’s surfaces. They do this by releasing ionized oxidizers into your home’s air. They’re negatively charged particles that work like magnets, collecting odors, smoke, bacteria, and viruses. That allows the air scrubber to eliminate harmful substances on surfaces without being in contact with them.
How Do Air Scrubbers Work?
Although there are a variety of air scrubbers on the market aimed at residential use, most rely on similar technologies. One thing you’ll find in most air scrubbers is an integrated HEPA filter. They’re the type of filters you’ll find in hospitals and other sensitive spaces. A HEPA filter can remove 99.97% or more of substances as small as .3 microns from your air. They are especially effective in all but eliminating things like mold, pollen, dust, bacteria, and certain viruses. To boost their effectiveness, most air scrubbers also employ a prefilter that captures larger particles.
In addition to HEPA filtration, many air scrubbers employ activated carbon filters. They work to remove things like odors, gases, and chemicals from your home’s air. Activated carbon refers to carbon that’s undergone extreme heating. That forces the carbon atoms to release any other substances bonded to them. That leaves them in a state where they will bond to any other compatible substances passing by them. You can picture an activated carbon filter as a type of sponge. It features millions of tiny holes that trap harmful substances, pulling them out of your air.
Some air scrubbers go another step further to clean your home’s air. To do it, they contain UV light technology, which kills any viruses or bacteria that elude the filters. A UV light emits a specific wavelength of radiation that can kill or sterilize viruses or bacteria. This reduces the quantity of those things in your air, and what remains is incapable of replicating itself. Therefore, air scrubbers that feature UV lights make your home’s air healthier, not just cleaner.
Do Air Scrubbers Work With All HVAC Systems?
Since most residential air scrubbers utilize your home’s existing ductwork, they must coexist with your HVAC system. However, the majority of air scrubbers have their own built-in fans. This means they don’t require your HVAC to run if you want clean air. Instead, your air scrubber pulls in air, cleans it, and sends it back through your ductwork into your home. As long as you have a forced-air HVAC system with existing ductwork, you can add an air scrubber.
Some air scrubber models work as stand-alone devices. This makes them portable and suitable for cleaning the air in smaller spaces. The main difference, besides capacity, is that most portable air scrubbers require more frequent maintenance. They rely on disposable filters that you need to replace periodically. By contrast, whole-house air scrubbers typically require less maintenance. At most, they may need periodic cleaning. Models that include UV lights may need bulb replacements occasionally, too.
Local Air Scrubber Experts
Since 2016, Home Comfort Services has offered affordable indoor air quality solutions to homeowners in Grand Junction, CO. We offer straightforward pricing and on-time appointments because we respect our customers. Plus, our team of HVAC technicians is highly trained, background checked, and drug tested. With us, you never have to worry about who you’re letting into your home. We also offer complete HVAC and plumbing services, ask us about our maintenance plan!
To find out more about installing an air scrubber to clean the air in your Grand Junction home, call Home Comfort Services today!
