Air Filtration Or Air Cleaning? Learn Which One Outperforms The Other

When it comes to improving your home’s indoor air quality, there are several areas to investigate, but do you focus on air filtration or air cleaning? What’s the difference?

Every home equipped with a forced-air heating and cooling system is filtering the air as it circulates through the ductwork. Air passes through a filter that catches debris, dust, pollutants, pet hair and other irritants. This is air filtering. Air cleaning, on the other hand, is a filtration process combined with other steps that actually purifies the air.

Air filtration or air cleaning: Which one is right for you?

• Filters: Your Delaware home and equipment can be well protected by getting the proper air filter. Filters that remove particles under five microns in size are healthier for both your family and furnace. As long as your airflow is unhampered, these filters reach a happy medium between filtration and cleaner air circulation. Filters that stop pollutants one micron and under (1/25,400th of an inch) can be healthier, but they also impact your home’s airflow. Consult a certified technician regarding your equipment before changing from your recommended filter.

• Air cleaners: Air cleaners run on electricity. There are two common types: room and whole-house cleaners. Air cleaners often use a multiple-stage filtration system: One filter catches particles the other filter may have missed. These cleaners also deal with viruses, bacteria and other microorganisms. They use ultraviolet light (UV) to destroy germs as they pass through the cleaner.Room air cleaners can be inadequate because they only purify the air in one room and must be moved from room to room as the occupant moves. Whole-house air cleaners are fitted to the heating system and clean the air in all rooms of the home. They’re more efficient and healthier than either room cleaners or filters, but they must be installed by a specialist.

If you would like to upgrade to healthier indoor air and would like more information about air filtration or air cleaning, contact the professionals at Sobieski Services. We can help simplify filtration and air cleaners so you can make the best choice for your family.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Wilmington, Delaware and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC & plumbing systems).

Image Credit: Paolo Camera