We’ve just about made it through February. While March signals the start of the warmer weather in many areas of the country, we here in Vermont know that there is still plenty of winter left to contend with. We haven’t even begun to really think about mud season yet. That being said, it is a good idea to start thinking about what you can do to make your home a more comfortable and healthful environment once the grip of winter does loosen. Taking steps to protect your indoor air quality in Springfield, VT is a good place to start.
Figuring out how best to protect and to improve upon the quality of the air in your home can be a daunting challenge in some ways. There is a solution to just about any problem, but there are also a lot of different problems that you may face. It is vital that you are using the right equipment for the right situations, and that this equipment is the right fit for your HVAC system and home. We’ll ensure that this is the case. Let our indoor air quality specialists set you up with the right air purifiers and air cleaners for your needs.
Air Filtration, Cleaning, and Purification
When you think of cleaning up the air in your home, a basic air filter may be first system that springs to mind. Now, there are definitely great air filtration systems that you can use to remove pollutants from the air in your home. Relying solely on air filters can result in some problems, though.
- Low MERV. MERV, or minimum efficiency reporting values, are important to keep in mind when looking at whole-house air filters. Those standard filters that you slide into your furnace/air handler are not going to be efficient enough to really boost indoor air quality throughout your home. They are actually intended to protect the HVAC system itself, not household air quality.
- Excessive airflow resistance. The trouble with MERV can run in both directions. Using an air filter that is too efficient for your HVAC system to handle can cause far too much airflow resistance. In some instances, this will drag down the efficiency with which a system operates. In others, the strain on the system can lead to operational problems and even damages.
One system that we often recommend and install/service is the Lifebreath TFP series air cleaner. It combines two methods of air cleaning in order to provide you with, fresh, clean air throughout the house, without straining your HVAC system. Other air cleaners, such as basic electrostatic precipitators, draw air through an ionization chamber. The pollutants in that air are given an electric charge, and are trapped on oppositely charged plates that are easily removed for cleaning.
Using air filters or electronic air cleaners to remove pollutants from the air is fine for materials like dust and dirt. Living microorganisms, however, must be destroyed. Otherwise, these biological pollutants can continue to reproduce and thrive even after being captured. Pollutant destruction systems, like UV air purifiers, can be used to this end. The UV light emitted by these germicidal lamps kills the pollutants or renders them incapable of reproduction.
As we said, there is a lot to consider when it comes to improving the air quality in your home. Be sure to work with us to guarantee that you are doing so effectively. Call HB Energy Solutions for all your energy needs. HB Energy Solutions delivers peace of mind.
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