How do Air Purifiers Work?

Most homeowners in Cedarburg, WI, are shocked to learn that the air in their homes is up to five times dirtier than the outdoor air. Indoor air pollution comes from many sources, including your house’s furnishings and the materials used to construct your home. The everyday activities you do and the products you bring into your residence add to indoor air pollution. One way to improve the quality of your home’s air is to install an air purifier. Here’s what you need to know about how they work and who should consider having one installed in their home.

What Air Purifiers Do

Air purifiers clean the air. They trap or inactivate a variety of particles. There are two types of air purifiers. Portable air purifiers are designed to clean the air in one room, such as a bedroom. A whole-home air purifier sanitizes all of the air in your house. Both types are rated by their airflow rate. You should choose an air purifier that will handle all of your home’s or room’s air at least twice per hour. This allows the appliance to remove contaminants, such as sneeze clouds laden with viruses before you have a chance to breathe those particles into your lungs. There are two ways air purifiers work.

One way that an air purifier works is by trapping particles. They may have a filter that does this. The filter media includes layers of fibers that trap particles. These air purifiers will need filter changes once every two to four weeks. An air purifier may also trap particles through electrostatic charges. They do this with ions, and the particles then stick to plates. The metal plates need to be cleaned about once per month.

Another way an air purifier may clean your air is through particle inactivation. There are two types of technology for particle inactivation in air purification systems. The first is with a UV-C lamp. A UV-C lamp is a special type of light bulb that emits UV-C energy. This type of energy bombards the outer protein coats of bacteria, viruses, and allergens. The particles break apart into harmless components. The other type of technology that can inactivate particles is ion emission. Ion emission air purifiers release positively and negatively charged ions that inactivate particles. Some of the particles will stick to each other, and they’ll be big enough to be trapped by the unit’s air filter.

How Effective Are Air Purifiers at Cleaning the Air?

Air purifiers are very effective at inactivating and trapping particles from a house’s air. They do the best job with large particles, such as pollen and pet dander. They also do a good job at inactivating infectious germs, such as the viruses that cause the common cold or influenza. To get the best results from your air purifier, you’ll need to keep up with the manufacturer’s maintenance recommendations for cleaning the plates or changing the filters. UV-C air purifiers will need a bulb replacement every one to two years. It’s also a good idea to pair the air purifier with an HVAC filter that has a high minimum efficiency reported value (MERV) rating. Look for a filter with a MERV rating of at least 13. These filters trap particles like dust, bacteria, oil droplets, and pet saliva.

Who Should Consider Using an Air Purifier?

If you or anyone in your home suffers from allergies or asthma, then an air purifier may remove some of the particles that trigger your symptoms. By inactivating allergens and germs in your house’s air, the air purifier also lowers your risk of getting sick. This is helpful for anyone with allergies, asthma, or a compromised immune system. If your household includes a baby or an elderly person, an air purifier could help them breathe easier and give you peace of mind. You may also want to consider an air purifier if you’ve noticed more dust buildup or if you find yourself coughing, sniffling, or sneezing more frequently.

Hometown Heating, Air & Electric employs a trusted installation team for air purifiers. You can also count on us for dependable heating and air conditioning maintenance, repair, replacement, and installation services. Our maintenance agreements will make your life in Cedarburg more convenient, save you money, and give you peace of mind. For more details about air purifiers and how they work, get in touch with us at Hometown Heating, Air & Electric today.

What are the Major Parts of an Air Conditioner?

Summertime in Cedarburg, WI, is warm and humid. You’ll need a properly functioning air conditioning system to maintain a comfortable environment in your home. Central air conditioning systems have many parts, and they all have to be in good working order for the system to keep your home cool and to remove excess humidity. Here are seven of the major components of an air conditioner.

1. Refrigerant

Air conditioners contain a chemical refrigerant. These chemicals transfer states between liquid and vapor as they absorb and release heat and become pressurized. The first generation of air conditioners used Freon as the refrigerant. By the 1960s, scientists discovered that Freon contributed to ozone depletion. Its use was phased out. In 2010, the production of Freon ended. Newer air conditioners use a refrigerant called R-410A. This refrigerant doesn’t damage the ozone layer. An old air conditioner that uses Freon can’t be refilled with R-410A.

2. Evaporator

The evaporator is a coil contained in the indoor portion of your air conditioner. The cold refrigerant cycles through it. The coil extracts both heat and humidity from your home’s air. The coil needs an annual cleaning from a certified technician. Dust or dirt on the coil can interfere with its ability to absorb heat from your home’s air.

3. Air Handler

In most air conditioners, the evaporator coil is contained within the air handler. The air handler also includes a blower and motor. The blower pushes warm air from your home across the cold evaporator coil. Moisture condenses out of the cooled air, and the water is drained into the condensate drain and pan. The air handler also contains the housing for the air filter. Most air conditioning systems use disposable air filters. We recommend checking them monthly and replacing them every one to three months.

4. Compressor

The compressor’s job is to compress the refrigerant. This turns it into a hot liquid. The liquid gets hot enough that it is able to pass through the condenser coils and release its heat. The compressor is located between the evaporator and condenser coils.

5. Condenser

The condenser is part of the outdoor unit. The condenser contains a fan with a motor. It also has a large coil. The refrigerant travels through the coil. The condenser’s fan blows outdoor air across the coils, which cools the refrigerant. Heat dissipates to the outdoors. A stainless steel housing protects the fan, motor, and coil. The outdoor location of the condenser makes it prone to wind, hail, and rust damage. We recommend cutting back tree branches, grass, shrubs, and other vegetation at least three feet away from the condenser. Doing this allows the heat from the refrigerant to flow away from the condenser. If you ever notice ice on the condenser coils, this is a problem that requires urgent repairs.

6. Expansion Valve

An expansion valve decreases the pressure of the liquid refrigerant. This lowers the temperature of the refrigerant, turning it from a warm liquid into a cold liquid. The cold liquid is ready to enter the evaporator coil and absorb more heat energy from your home’s air.

7. Thermostat

The thermostat is your air conditioner’s command and control center. It has an air temperature sensor. When the air temperature in your home is above the temperature setting, the thermostat triggers the air conditioner to turn on. It does this with a wired connection. Smart thermostats also connect to your home’s Wi-Fi. Through Wi-Fi, the thermostat can communicate with an app on your phone.

Other Air Conditioner Parts

Air conditioners have many additional parts. The capacitor delivers a high level of power at the startup of a cooling cycle. This energy is needed to start the motors. Air conditioners also have pressure valves and sensors. They include a control panel, wiring, and switches. The condensate drain and pan are also important. The system’s air filter traps particles and prevents them from circulating through your home or settling on the evaporator’s coil.

At Hometown Heating, Air & Electric, we’re the trusted installation team for air conditioners. We also install heating systems. Our heating and air conditioning maintenance and repair services keep you comfortable all year long. You can also turn to us for affordable indoor air quality services. For more information about the major parts of an air conditioner, contact us at Hometown Heating, Air & Electric as soon as you can.