Last Updated on March 22, 2021 by HVAC

Are Central Air Purification Systems Worth The Cost?

Is an HVAC air purifier worth it? Ask any allergy sufferer if they know when allergy season is and they are sure to tell you. When you think of allergies, most people think of pollen, hay fever and the unfortunate need to avoid the outdoors. But taking refuge in your home won’t help if your air quality is low.

Recent EPA studies show that levels of some indoor air pollutants can reach more than 100 times that of outdoor air pollutants! What does this mean for you and your family? You may find that you are not safe from developing health issues and allergies no matter what time of the year it is.

As consumer awareness grows with respect to health-related issues caused by poor air quality, so too does the demand for home air purification products from experts’ reviews. Indoor air pollutants are tenacious. They do not discriminate. Their effects are dangerous and far-reaching, infecting everyone from infants to the elderly.

Airborne pollutants found in homes, such as particulates (dust), microorganisms (molds, fungi & bacteria) and other toxins and gases can trigger a variety of health problems such as allergies, asthma and other respiratory illnesses. But the list doesn’t stop there.

People with poor air quality in their home can also suffer from:

• Sinus conditions
• Chronic fatigue
• Skin rashes
• Headaches
• Chronic coughing, sneezing and wheezing
• Recurring cold and flu-type symptoms

There are steps that you can take to improve your air quality at home and thereby improve your overall health. One such option that you can chose in your battle of pollution is to have Central Air Purification in addition to properly maintaining your HVAC system through proper furnace plenum and vent cleaning, changing of filters and other annual maintenance issues.

Why Central Air Purification?

Wouldn’t vacuuming alone do the trick to handle all of your dirt and pollution removal? Cleaning and vacuuming can only remove dirt and other visible contaminants settled on floors and other surfaces. Airborne pollutants and allergens are invisible to the naked eye, but nonetheless very dangerous.

Studies have shown that more than 99% of airborne particles are smaller than 1 micron in size and can remain airborne for up to a few days. Vacuuming can often worsen the problem by stirring up microscopic particles that have settled in your home. Most standard vacuum cleaner filters are not efficient enough to capture particles this small, so they can actually get tossed right back into the air again, causing you more issues than when you started on your mission to get your home clean.

If you have even the best furnace filters and think that they alone are doing the job of keeping your home allergen-free, think again. The average furnace filters are only about 5% to 10% efficient. Furnace filters only catch the large particles-not the smaller ones like fine dust particles and microbes. And those are the very source of your allergy demons.

HEPA filters are not much better. The efficiency of electrostatic filters drops significantly as they become dirty, whereas with Central Air Purification (CAP), the reverse is true. As CAP filters become more dirty, they actually become more efficient! Central Air Purification takes the guess-work out of wondering whether or not you’ve left your home allergen-free. CAP systems reduce the amounts of allergy-causing particulates in air.

You can also see the differences between Fiberglass Air Filters VS Pleated Furnace Filters.

How does Central Air Purification work?

CAP units are installed in your existing HVAC systems. A powerful blower in the unit pulls dirty air from the HVAC system, filters it, and returns the newly purified air back to your system.

Typical installations can provide 50 to 75 clean air changes per day. CAP units are designed both for use in new installations and for retrofit applications.

That means that no matter how old or new your unit is, you can find a purification system that can be used to work with what you have. Keep in mind that one CAP unit is required for each HVAC system that you own.

Many CAP systems feature high-output germicidal UV disinfection lamps for added control of bacteria and fungi that are present in your home. Germicidal UV has been used in hospitals, pharmaceutical plants and food processing and storage facilities to break down the DNA of airborne pathogens. Think of it as industrial-strength protection in the comfort of your home. It will greatly reduce or eliminate allergens such as bacteria, viruses, molds and fungi.

The UV lamps also work to neutralize common household odors and microbial odors. Not only will your air be cleaner to breathe but it will smell better – a nice added bonus of using a CAP system in your home. Another added bonus? Some CAP systems are actually registered as Class II Medical Devices which may qualify homeowners for financial reimbursement under certain insurance plans. More money and better health.

You can’t go wrong with a CAP system. Make sure to have one installed by a licensed HVAC professional.