The Science Behind Air Purification: What You Need to Know

Indoor air quality is a common issue for Burbank, CA, households. Outdoor contaminants that cause problems with seasonal allergies, pollution from nearby roads and wildfires all contribute to lower air quality. Poor air quality can even impact residential heating and cooling systems. This is why it’s crucial to do all you can to make the air in your home cleaner. To do this, you’ll first need to understand your air purification options. Fortunately, for Burbank homeowners, there are more than a few available. Understanding how each system works makes it easier to choose the best ones for your particular circumstances.

How Does Indoor Air Quality Work?

The term indoor air quality, or IAQ, describes how the air inside a home affects the well-being of its inhabitants. Ventilation, air circulation, pollutant levels and the presence of pollutants like dust, mold or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are some of the many elements that affect IAQ. Keeping interior air quality high requires a combination of strategies, including adequate ventilation, frequent cleaning and the use of air purifiers to mitigate contaminants.

What Is an Indoor Air Quality Audit?

To determine how clean or dirty the air is inside your home, you need to schedule an indoor air quality audit. This audit is usually carried out by experts who examine things like air circulation, pollution levels, relative humidity and possible contamination sources. The objective is to identify the sources of poor air quality and provide solutions.

What Is an Air Purification System?

Air filtration systems help create a better interior environment by increasing air purity, which in turn reduces respiratory difficulties and makes people feel more comfortable. Filtration, ultraviolet lights, ionization and catalytic reactions are some of the ways these systems neutralize dust, mold, germs and VOCs.

What Is the PureAirâ„¢ Air Purification System?

If you’re a homeowner looking for a complete solution to improve the air quality for your family’s respiratory health and comfort, the PureAirâ„¢ Air Purification System is a great bet. Designed by Lennox, it combines a MERV16 filter, ultraviolet light and a metal catalyst to efficiently remove airborne pollutants, smells and particulates. By removing a wide variety of contaminants, this technology makes interior spaces safer and healthier for people to live in.

Using Humidifiers to Improve IAQ

Humidifiers come in two main types: portable and integrated. Integrated humidifiers connect directly into your HVAC system, providing whole-home humidification. A whole-home humidifier performs remarkably well at reducing the dryness that heating systems cause. When using a humidifier to improve IAQ, strive for a relative humidity level of 30% to 50%. If you want your humidifier to work at its best year-round, cleaning and maintaining it on a regular basis is a must.

What Is the Healthy Climate ® Whole-Home Power Humidifier?

To keep the relative humidity in your house at a comfortable level, invest in the innovative Healthy Climate ® Whole-house Power Humidifier. During the heating season, this whole-house solution from Lennox adds moisture to the air via its connection with the HVAC system. It maintains a constant relative humidity, which is vital to keeping wood furniture from warping. It also protects you from problems like dry skin and static electricity. If you live in a dry area or want to make sure your indoor air quality is good for you, a power humidifier is a great investment.

Using Dehumidifiers to Improve IAQ

Strategically positioned dehumidifiers can help regulate excess moisture during the summer, when humidity levels increase. This, in turn, can prevent mold formation and reduce allergies. Like humidifiers, dehumidifiers come in two main types: portable and integrated. For whole-home comfort, Burbank homeowners should use a dehumidifier that connects to the HVAC system.

What Is the Humiditrol ® Whole-Home Dehumidification System?

For homes with excessive humidity, Lennox offers the Humiditrol ® Whole-Home Dehumidification System, a state-of-the-art solution. By coordinating with the HVAC system, this device efficiently regulates and eliminates surplus humidity, enhancing IAQ. It keeps things like mildew, allergies and the discomfort that comes with excessive humidity at bay.

Improving Ventilation to Improve IAQ

Proper ventilation is key to maintaining clean indoor air. By allowing outside air to replace stale interior air, ventilation systems keep indoor air pollution-free and healthy. These systems regulate humidity, remove pollutants and prevent toxins from accumulating. Having a well-ventilated room is important for your health and comfort; therefore, it’s a good idea to modify the ventilation rates according to your requirements. A licensed HVAC technician can help you understand the proper ventilation rate for your home.

What Is the Healthy Climate Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV)?

By maximizing energy efficiency and improving indoor air quality, Lennox’s Healthy Climate Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV) revolutionizes ventilation systems. This device allows for the recovery of energy while exchanging stale indoor air for fresh outside air. Regardless of the season, the ERV is a great choice since it helps keep the air fresh without sacrificing temperature control.

Using Germicidal Lights to Improve IAQ

Germicidal lights are UV lamps that target and kill airborne and surface germs, viruses and mold. These lights, when installed in HVAC systems, provide UV-C radiation that destroys microbes by destroying their DNA. This makes IAQ healthier by lowering the presence of hazardous microorganisms.

What Are Healthy Climate ® UVC Germicidal Lights?

Developed by Lennox, Healthy Climate ® UVC Germicidal Lights are cutting-edge UV light systems that enhance IAQ. When placed within an HVAC system, these lights release a strong beam of ultraviolet C radiation, which kills or incapacitates microbes, including mold, bacteria and viruses. The lights improve air purification by interfering with the DNA structure of these germs, leading to a healthier living space.

Filter Options for Better IAQ

Burbank homeowners have several air filtration options to choose from that can improve IAQ. No matter the type used, it’s paramount to clean or replace the filter according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Failing to clean or replace a filter leads to poor IAQ in addition to a host of HVAC problems. Some of these problems, like system overheating or frozen evaporator coils, can be incredibly expensive and inconvenient to fix.

What Is the Healthy Climate Carbon Clean 16 Media Air Cleaner?

One of the most advanced air filtration systems that Lennox designed is the Healthy Climate Carbon Clean 16 Media Air Cleaner. It has a MERV 16 filter, which is great at removing airborne particles like dust, pollen, mold spores, animal hair and even some types of germs and viruses.

What Is the Healthy Climate 11 Media Air Cleaner

Another one of Lennox’s advanced air filtration systems is the Healthy Climate 11 Media Air Cleaner. It uses an efficient MERV 11 filter to capture typical airborne particles, including dust, pollen, pet hair and mold spores. This system isn’t as sophisticated as the Healthy Climate Carbon Clean 16 Media Air Cleaner, but it still does a solid job at improving IAQ.

Are you ready to learn which air purification systems to use in your home? Air Max HVAC offers numerous services to improve your home’s air quality and comfort. Some of our most popular services include HVAC maintenance, mini-split installations, heat pump repairs, home energy audits and more. Learn how to make your home a healthier and happier home by contacting Air Max HVAC now.