Poor indoor air quality is a problem in many households, and it can lead to a whole host of potentially serious health problems. In addition to regularly vacuuming, dusting and mopping floors and surfaces — and promoting proper air exchange and circulation — you should use equipment that’s specially designed to remove impurities and pollutants from your indoor air. Electronic air cleaners are among the most effective tools you can get if you’re looking to boost the quality of your indoor air.

There are two main types of electronic air cleaners: ionizers and electrostatic precipitators. Both of them work by zapping particulate and organic matter with an electrical charge, but there are differences in the respective ways they achieve this end.

Ionizers eject ions into the air, which then fuse to the particles that contribute to indoor air pollution. This gives the particles an electric charge, which attracts them to walls, floors and drapery, thereby removing them from the air you breathe.

Electrostatic precipitators use a slightly different principle. These systems actually suck indoor air into the appliance itself, charging the particles and forcing them through to a filter that has the opposite charge. The end result is that pollutants get trapped in the filter when they come into contact with the opposite charge.

However, electronic air cleaners have limitations. They do not affect volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or gaseous pollutants such as radon and carbon monoxide. You should supplement their use with radon and carbon monoxide detectors and air purifiers that are specifically designed to remove VOCs from your indoor air.

We at Smoky Mountain Heating & Air are pleased to offer our customers a wide range of indoor air quality products. If you need advice on strategies you can use to improve your indoor air quality or want to learn more about the electronic air cleaners we sell and service, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about electronic air cleaners and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Smoky Mountain Heating & Air services Asheville, North Carolina and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!