The decision to invest in a whole-house air filtration system will depend on a variety of factors, including the allergies and sensitivities of the people in your household, the size of your home, the types of filtration systems available, and your budget.
Beyond the one-time-use filters that you replace in your current HVAC system, what options are there? And how do you choose?
Here are some things to consider.
But First: Does Air Filtration Really Work?
It does, especially when combined with other measures.
According to the EPA, “The most effective ways to improve your indoor air are to reduce or remove the sources of pollutants and to ventilate with clean outdoor air. In addition, research shows that filtration can be an effective supplement to source control and ventilation. Using a portable air cleaner and/or upgrading the air filter in your furnace or central heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system can help to improve indoor air quality.” [emphases ours]
What Are The Different Types Of Air Filtration Systems?
To filter the air in your home, you can use stand-alone air purifiers or a whole-house air filtration system.
Stand-alone air purifiers plug into a standard outlet and remove pollutants and irritants in a limited area. The square footage they cover varies from unit to unit. You can buy and plug these in yourself.
Be aware that some home air purifiers produced unhealthy levels of ozone in a study conducted by researchers at UC Irvine.
Whole-house air filtration systems are attached to your HVAC unit and clean all the air in your home as it runs through the system. The best whole-house air filtration option for your home will depend on your individual goals. Talk to your HVAC professional about what type would be best for your household. Options include extended media filters that trap larger particles, such as pet dander and pollen; electrostatic or electronic filters that trap smaller particles by electrically charging them; or ultraviolet filters that kill mold and bacteria. All whole-house systems need to be installed by an HVAC professional.
The benefits of a whole-house air filtration system include:
Improving Allergy Symptoms
People who suffer from allergies and asthma report that clean indoor air improves their symptoms. Air filtration helps remove triggers such as dust mites, mold, pollen spores, smoke, and VOCs.
A One-And-Done Solution
While single-room air purifiers help improve air quality, installing a whole-house air filtration system is a simpler, all-encompassing way to manage indoor air pollutants.
A whole-house system eliminates or reduces the need for room-by-room air purifiers.
They’re Less Noisy & Take Up Less Space
Stand-alone air purifiers can make a lot of noise. Since whole-house air purification is attached to your HVAC system, it makes no more noise than the system does currently.
It’s also invisible. Stand-alone air purifiers have a footprint in every space where you have one in your home. An integrated air filtration system resides with the system, so it only takes up space in your garage, basement, or other hidden area.
Does The Size Of Your Home Matter?
Yes. A smaller home could be a good candidate for stand-alone air purifiers. Smaller rooms can be reliably purified with multiple units. Rooms with more than 1,500 square feet may require multiple units. Rooms with doors, particularly bedrooms, are best served with dedicated units.
Sources
Air Cleaners and Air Filters in the Home, epa.gov
Air Purifiers That Produce Ozone May Be Hurting Your Health, rabbitair.com
How Do Whole-House Air Purifiers Work?, achooallergy.com
Is It Necessary To Have An Air Purifier In Every Room?, ushomefilter.com
The Benefits Of Whole-Home Air Cleaners, hgtv.com