Are you concerned about poor indoor air quality (IAQ)? If so, an air scrubber can help. These devices remove common air pollutants like allergens and viruses from indoor air. Well-purified indoor air can also mitigate and reduce the symptoms of certain respiratory illnesses while enabling a healthier and more comfortable indoor living environment.
Introducing an air scrubber includes several benefits worth mentioning, and today, there are air scrubbers to meet virtually every IAQ need. Now, let’s look at the different types of air scrubbers and how they affect IAQ and energy efficiency below. We’ll also explore cost considerations and maintenance requirements.
What Are Air Scrubbers?
Most air scrubbers leverage incorporate multiple filtration components to remove indoor air contaminants. These elements often include high-efficiency filters that can prevent particles as small as 0.3 microns from polluting your indoor air environment. These filters are highly efficient at eliminating fine particulates like dust and mold spores from your space while promoting a more comfortable atmosphere.
Air scrubbers also frequently deploy UV lamps. This solution emits ultraviolet light to disrupt the DNA of viruses, bacteria, and other microorganisms. By exposing these harmful pathogens to UV light, they’re essentially rendered harmless to a point where they won’t spread and cause illness.
Activated carbon filters help purify the air by eliminating odors and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Since air scrubbers use a multilayered process with multiple filters to purify the air, they can catch several common pollutants. Air scrubbers are among the most reliable defenses against harmful airborne contaminants inside homes and businesses.
Types of Air Scrubbers
Air scrubbers are separated into two main types. The first is a portable system that lets you move it from room to room. These flexible solutions are ideal for dwellings that don’t necessarily need a whole-house filtration system. The second type of air scrubber is known as a fixed system. This option permanently connects directly to your central heating and cooling system to provide continuous air purification throughout your space.
You can find both residential and commercial-grade air scrubbers. Residential scrubbers are engineered to accommodate smaller spaces and eliminate common household old pollutants such as dust, pet dander, and mold. Commercial air scrubbers, in contrast, are substantially more robust. They can purify large spaces with higher contaminant levels, such as schools and healthcare facilities. Both solutions use features like carbon and HEPA filters along with UV lamps for thorough air cleaning.
What Are the Primary Benefits of Using an Air Scrubber?
Adding an air scrubber to your HVAC system or introducing a portable unit can significantly reverse poor indoor air quality. They can also lower dust levels in your home and reduce the presence of dander in addition to bacteria and viruses. While this promotes a healthier overall indoor breathing environment, higher IAQ also mitigates the symptoms of anyone in your household who suffers from a respiratory condition.
Aside from the various health benefits, air scrubbers promote a more comfortable living space. Your air feel will smell and feel fresher and cleaner, leaving you with a marked difference in your indoor comfort levels. Air scrubbers also help improve energy efficiency by eliminating dust matter and debris that, in high volumes, tends to clog the HVAC system.
When your HVAC system becomes overburdened by particulates, it has to work harder to perform its normal functions. By keeping your air clean, an air scrubber can help relieve the strain on your heating and system and lower your energy bills. Adding an air scrubber can also help reduce the wear and tear on your system and extend its lifespan.
Air Scrubbers and Their Applications
Air scrubbers can be used in many ways and in multiple settings. Families with pets or allergy-prone household members can enjoy substantial symptom relief by introducing an air scrubber to their homes. For those who smoke, scrubbers can eliminate smoke particles and odors.
In commercial buildings, like offices and health care facilities, air scrubbers can be indispensable for preserving safe breathing air by reducing the spread of germs and viruses. This benefit is vital in areas with heavy foot traffic that see many people daily. Likewise, industrial spaces like warehouses and manufacturing plants often use air scrubbers to tackle high indoor contaminant levels.
Maintenance Requirements for Air Scrubbers
As with all equipment, air scrubbers benefit from routine maintenance, which will keep them running efficiently and maximize their lifespan. Most maintenance is simple, however, like routine filter replacement. Regular cleaning will also help prevent malfunctions. The filter changing frequency varies depending on the type of unit and usage. For the best results, reference your device’s user manual for specific guidelines.
The advanced, permanent fixed-air scrubbing systems often require periodic professional check-ups to ensure optimal performance and keep the system in warranty. We recommend inspecting these solutions yearly along with the rest of your HVAC system. Your air scrubber may be due for maintenance if you notice reduced airflow, unusual noises from the unit, or foul-smelling odors emitting from the system. Ask us about our maintenance plans today!
Air Scrubbers and Cost Considerations
Utilizing an air scrubber can translate to some rather healthy long-term savings. Portable air scrubbers are reasonably affordable, costing just a few hundred dollars on average, while fixed, whole-house systems can climb into the thousands. As mentioned, both solutions can help reduce your energy bills by relieving strain on your HVAC system.
Likewise, financial incentives at the federal, state, and local levels make it more cost-effective to invest in energy-efficient HVAC upgrades. Dozens of energy-efficient HVAC improvements could potentially qualify you for a tax credit of up to $3,200. According to the IRS, you can claim credits for these improvements through 2032. The state of Maryland offers several attractive energy incentives as well.
Installing a Fixed Air Scrubber
The installation process requires a comprehensive assessment of your space to determine the best location and unit type. Normally, this evaluation involves a professional HVAC technician to ensure the solution will perform as expected. Our technicians typically measure your space and identify the optimal solution, they will proceed to install the air scrubber.
We typically install these solutions inside your HVAC supply plenum and secure them with appropriate mounting hardware. This is a skilled task that needs to be carried out by an experienced professional. A botched wiring job can damage your HVAC system and increase the risks of an electrical fire.
Finding Expert Air Quality Solutions
Air scrubbers offer an excellent option for enhancing the safety and quality of your indoor air. At Markool Heating & Cooling we help home and business owners in Fredericksburg, MD find the ideal air scrubber system to ensure the most consistent and lasting outcomes. Apart from our indoor air quality solutions, we also install and maintain HVAC units while offering expert plumbing and air duct cleaning services in the region. Our team prides itself on delivering high-quality workmanship while providing reliable and professional support throughout every service.
For more on how we at Markool Heating & Cooling can improve your indoor air quality with our expert HVAC solutions, contact us now
