Air pollution is one of the EPA’s top five environmental health concerns. Because our homes are designed for energy efficiency, indoor air has actually become more polluted than outside air. The best way to maintain your indoor air quality is to increase ventilation and eliminate air pollutants with air cleaners.  

While opening a window may work in the summer months, increasing natural ventilation in the winter is not always an easy option. And, despite the winter, ventilation alone does not control or eliminate air pollutants, so an indoor air cleaner might be a good investment for your Asheville home.

When it comes to air cleaners, homeowners have two types from which to choose: whole-house and portable versions. Whole-house cleaners are installed in the HVAC duct system and are not the same as a typical furnace filter.  The furnace filters are not designed to clean the air; they simply capture the particles to keep the furnace working. Whole-house types are added to a HVAC system as an upgrade and use electrostatic precipitators, UV lamps and filters that absorb gaseous pollutants. Continuous fans are also used as part of the whole-house cleaning system to improve air circulation.

Portable air cleaners, on the other hand, come as a separate unit. They can be small tabletop devices or large standalone consoles. Portable types use the same technology to clean the air, however they’re not designed to run continuously. They only clean localized air when needed and have a built-in fan to circulate the air, along with a cleaning device to strip the particles from the air. There are some portable units designed without a fan so they’re quieter, but they are usually less effective.

If you have more questions about air cleaners and what type is best for your home, contact the experts at Smoky Mountain Heating & Air.  We serve homeowners throughout the Asheville area.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Asheville, North Carolina and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).

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