The following is some information regarding how you can protect your home or business.
When the Covid 19 pandemic traversed the world bringing heightened concern to everyone about indoor air quality (IAQ), many self-proclaimed “experts” entered the fray with their opinions – and especially their products! Many businesses and homeowners clamored to find the best way to improve their IAQ and stop the spread of the virus. The result was a general confusion with regard to the best methods for producing cleaner air.
There were multiple machines and devices that came on the market – most of them adhering to essentially three forms of air purification. Some devices used all three! We wanted to “clear the air” about what we see and what we know about the most cost-effective and sound methods for keeping your home or business environment free from contaminants.
- 1. Filtration: Yes, the thing we have been installing in HVAC systems since the advent of central air conditioning is still one of the most effective methods of keeping your air and your systems clean! Most residential and light-commercial systems can handle filter efficiencies up to and including MERV-13 (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) without adverse effects on equipment performance. Higher efficiency filters may cause noticeable energy usage increase and general degradation of both your heating and cooling system performance. We can help you choose the right one!
- 2. UV Lights: This is another technology that has been around for a long time! The food service industry has been using these for many years and, with improved technologies, the HVAC industry has incorporated lights in the air stream as well. While these can be quite effective in killing airborne pathogens, mold and VOC’s they do not generally work well against pollen or dust. They also are limited to what the light can “see”…meaning they don’t clean what the light doesn’t touch, so they don’t do well for keeping coils clean unless the light is direct contact. In addition, there is a recurring cost involved (like filters, only more expensive!) because the bulbs burnout – usually 2 years is the limit.
- 3. Bipolar Ionization: While many see this as a new technology, the underlying principles have been around for years in industries such as fire restoration and mold remediation. The difference with the new technology of Needlepoint Bipolar Ionization takes this to another level by limiting the amount of harmful ozone produced. Ionization kills airborne bacteria, mold spores, pathogens and also performs well against dust, pollen and odors. It also does very well at cleaning air conditioning coils. In our experience, the improvement of air quality has been noticeable – reducing pet odor, reduction in allergic reactions to pollen and mold. There is very little in the way of maintenance for these devices and they have a long life – as long as 10 years – making them more cost effective than UV lighting in the long run.
You can find out what the EPA has to say about all these technologies by clicking here.
The method you choose depends on application – do you have pets? Do you have allergies in the Spring and Fall? Do you have a damp basement? Do you have none of these? We don’t recommend the expense of added technologies unless the need is real. Most systems already have adequate filtration and that could be all you need! We would be more than happy to take a look at your systems and your home or business and give you an evaluation!
