Cleaning Up the Air in Your Home

It’s no secret that outdoor air pollution has gotten worse in recent decades. But did you know that the air in your home can actually be just as dangerous? According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, indoor air pollution is among the top five environmental health risks.

There are two types of air pollutants that can affect the air quality in the home:

Particulate matter is the type of pollutant most people are aware of – things like dust, smoke, pollen and animal dander. Also included in this category are dust mites, molds, bacteria, and viruses.

Gaseous pollutants come from sources such as gas cooking stoves, vehicle exhaust, and tobacco smoke. They also come from the use of household items like adhesives, paints, varnishes, cleaning products and pesticides.

Chas Roberts Air Conditioning & Plumbing, your top Phoenix air conditioning contractor, has good news: you can limit your use of gaseous pollutants in the home. Take a look at these options for air cleaning devices.

• Filters: The air filter in your Phoenix air conditioner cleans the air by passing it through a filter that removes particles. The density of the filter material limits the size of the particles that pass through – the denser the filter, the smaller the gaps and the more small pollutants and particles it can catch. Filters in your Phoenix air conditioning system should be replaced every month. You can buy new filters easily through Chas Roberts by visiting ChasRoberts.com/purchasefilters.
• Ionizing purifiers: These air purifiers use a method called corona discharge to create charged air molecules called ions. Most molecules in the air have a neutral charge. Molecules passing through the corona discharge electrical field pick up an additional electron or lose one. This gives the molecule a negative or positive charge, but it does not remain neutral. Once a particle is charged, it will attach itself to airborne particles and be attracted to anything with the opposite charge. Metal plates– some negative, some positive – within the purifier are charged to attract these particles and remove them from the air.
• Ultraviolet radiation purifiers: Ultraviolet light causes certain micro-organisms to become sterile and harmless. UV radiation purifiers have a UV light that bathes the air as it passes through, eliminating the potential harm of airborne bacteria and viruses.

To learn more about air purification options for your home, contact the Phoenix air conditioner experts at Chas Roberts Air Conditioning & Plumbing. To schedule an appointment, visit ChasRoberts.com or call (602) 943-3426 in Phoenix or (520) 292-6858 in Tucson.