Electronic Air Cleaners: Trap The Particles That Pollute Your Home With These Two Options

Poor indoor air quality can cause a number of health problems including respiratory diseases; eye, nose and throat irritation; headaches; fatigue; and in some cases even death. When it comes to health and safety, addressing your home’s indoor air quality should be at the top of your to-do list.

One of the best ways to remove contaminants from the air is by using an electronic air cleaner. Electronic air cleaners work by first assigning an electric charge to particles in the air, and then using oppositely charged surfaces to attract and remove the newly charged particles.

There are two main types of electronic air cleaners available: electrostatic precipitators and ion generators. Although the basic concept is the same, each type of air cleaner removes pollutants from the air in a slightly different way.

• Electrostatic Precipitators. This type of air cleaner works by first drawing polluted air through an ionizing chamber where particles in the air are assigned an electric charge. Next, the air is moved past a series of oppositely charged collector plates. The collector plates attract and remove the charged particles, leaving behind clean, healthy air. Although these air cleaners are highly effective, they do require regular cleaning to keep the collector plates free from built-up contaminants.
• Ion Generators. Ion generators are similar to electrostatic precipitators in that they work by assigning an electric charge to particles in the air. However, rather than using collector plates to attract these particles, they release the particles out into the room where they are then attracted to each other or to random surfaces in the room. The main downside to this type of air cleaner is that the particles can build up on surfaces in your home, including your furniture, walls, draperies and carpeting. As a result, you may find that you need to clean more frequently.

If you live in the Fayetteville area and would like to learn more about electronic air cleaners, contact us at Blanton’s Heating & A/C Corp.