Exploring the Benefits of Filtration Systems for Cleaner Indoor Spaces
TL;DR: Indoor air quality is crucial for health and well-being, especially considering that most Americans spend the majority of their time indoors. Air filtration systems help remove pollutants like dust, pollen, and mold spores, contributing to a healthier living environment. Different types of filters, offer various benefits and efficiency levels. Benefits of air filtration systems include reducing allergy and asthma triggers, improving HVAC efficiency, and saving on energy costs. Cummings Plumbing in Tucson, Arizona, offers HVAC maintenance and installation services to ensure clean indoor air for your home.
When you think about the air quality around you, it’s easy to focus on the outdoors – pollution, pollen, and other irritants. However, the air inside your home or workplace deserves as much attention, if not more. Considering that most Americans spend about 90% of their time indoors, the air quality inside our homes also affects our health.
That is where air filtration systems come into the picture, playing a role in removing impurities from the air to ensure a healthier living environment. The need for effective air purification measures has never been more apparent with pollutants ranging from dust mites to mold spores entering our indoor spaces.
Air filtration systems are increasingly becoming a go-to solution for maintaining indoor air quality, offering a straightforward way to tackle the issue head-on. This guide will discuss the main benefits of having such systems in your home. Let’s start exploring the benefits of filtration systems for cleaner indoor spaces.
What Affects Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is the air quality inside our homes and workplaces. The components of IAQ include a variety of pollutants that can make us sick. Common indoor pollutants come from sources you encounter daily.
For example, dust and dust mites accumulate from human skin cells, fabric fibers, and other materials found around your home. Pollen, tracked in from the outdoors, can also significantly affect air quality, especially during high pollen seasons. Mold spores thrive in damp areas, posing risks in poorly ventilated bathrooms or basements.
Volatile organic compounds are chemicals found in paints, cleaning supplies, and even air fresheners, which can off-gas into your living environment. These pollutants can have various health implications, ranging from minor health issues to severe allergic reactions.
How Air Filtration Systems Work
An effective method to remove most irritants from indoor air involves using an air filtration system. Some air filtration systems function by being hooked up to your HVAC system, allowing them to purify the air as it moves around your home. The process starts with the system drawing in air from your living space. As air passes through the filters, airborne particles are captured and filtered out.
How effective this process is depends on the quality of the filters you use. For example, HEPA filters are adept at trapping particles as small as 0.3 microns. That means that the finer the filter, the more particles it can remove.
Types of Air Filtration Systems
When you’re looking to purify the air in your space, you’ll find a variety of air filtration systems available for purchase. Each type has a unique way of cleaning the air and its own set of benefits and drawbacks.
HEPA Filters
High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters live up to their name by capturing particles as small as 0.3 microns with a 99.97% efficiency. They’re effective against air pollutants and irritants such as pollen, dust mites, and other airborne allergens.
While HEPA filters are highly effective, they need regular replacement, adding to the maintenance cost. Additionally, they don’t capture gasses or odors, so they might not be the best choice if that’s your primary concern.
Pleated Media Filters
These filters use denser material to trap particles, which makes them more effective than standard flat filters. The pleats increase the surface area, allowing the filter to capture more particles without sacrificing airflow.
On the downside, they require more frequent replacements than other types of filters, and their efficiency can lead to higher pressure drops in your HVAC system, potentially reducing its efficiency.
Spun Glass Filters
They are made from fine strands of glass spun together and are a more traditional air filter option. They’re typically more affordable and are good for filtering large particles like dust and lint.
However, they’re not as effective against smaller particles, such as pollen or smoke, making them a less desirable choice for those with allergies or respiratory issues. Their affordability makes them a good option for someone on a budget, but you’re sacrificing efficiency for cost.
Air Scrubbers
These air purifiers take a proactive approach by releasing negative ions into the air, which attach to particles and weigh them down, making it easier for the system’s filters to trap them.
Air scrubbers are particularly effective at reducing the presence of viruses and bacteria in the air. While they can be highly effective, especially in commercial settings, the upfront costs can be high, and professional installation may be required.
Electrostatic Precipitators
These purifiers charge the particles as they enter the filter, causing them to stick to plates within the unit. These systems can be efficient and have the advantage of washable filters, reducing ongoing costs.
However, they can produce small amounts of ozone, which is something to consider if you have respiratory issues or are particularly sensitive to air quality.
Ionizers
Ion purifiers use a similar principle to air scrubbers by releasing ions into the air, but instead of using a filter to capture the particles, the ions cause pollutants to stick to surfaces around the room.
While this means fewer particles to breathe in, it also means you’ll need to clean surfaces more often. Ionizers are quiet and energy-efficient but aren’t always the best choice for people with severe allergies since the allergens remain in the room, just not in the air.
The Benefits of Filtration Systems for Cleaner Indoor Spaces
You get more than clean indoor air when you integrate an air filtration system into your home. The benefits stretch far beyond the immediate perk of cleaner air, touching on health, environmental, and economic advantages that aren’t obvious right away. Air filtration systems work tirelessly to purify the air you breathe, but their impact is extensive, affecting various aspects of your home and life.
Health Benefits
The most significant benefit is reducing allergy and asthma triggers. By filtering out allergens and other airborne irritants, these air filtration systems create a safer environment for those with respiratory sensitivities.
The cleaner air means you and your family can experience fewer allergy symptoms and asthma flare-ups. Beyond that, with fewer pollutants in the air, there’s a lower risk of developing or exacerbating respiratory diseases, leading to improved overall well-being.
Environmental Benefits
On the environmental front, air filtration systems play a critical role in reducing the circulation of indoor pollutants. By keeping the air clean, these systems also help maintain the efficiency of your HVAC system.
A less burdened HVAC system doesn’t need to work as hard to circulate air, meaning it uses less energy and suffers less wear and tear over time. That reduces your carbon footprint and keeps your home free from outdoor pollutants.
Economic Benefits
Improved HVAC efficiency means you can lower your energy costs by 15%, as your system can move air more effortlessly through cleaner filters. This efficiency reduces the need for frequent HVAC repairs, effectively reducing maintenance costs.
Investing in an air filtration system pays off in numerous ways, including long-term savings on healthcare costs, as it can help you have a healthier indoor environment and reduce the need for medications or doctor visits for respiratory issues. It’s a wise decision for your health, wallet, and the environment.
Breathe Clean Air in Your Tucson Home
Investing in an air filtration system makes your indoor spaces cleaner and supports your health and comfort. Over time, it also contributes to the longevity of your HVAC system by preventing dirt and debris from causing damage.
If you want the best quality air in your home, Cummings Plumbing in Tucson, Arizona, can make that happen. We offer HVAC maintenance and cleaning services that keep your AC system dust and pollutant-free. For more purifying power, we can install the Reme Halo, which uses UV-C light and can integrate with your existing AC system.
Or you can opt for the Aerus Air scrubber, and strips away all unwanted airborne particles from your house. Give your house and yourself a dose of fresh air, call us today, and always breathe easy!
