If you are shopping around for the best air purifier, you may have some questions, including “does an air purifier work with central air” and “do I need to add a whole-house air purifier to an HVAC unit.” Don’t worry. We are here with some answers.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Air purifiers can certainly work in tandem with a central air unit, though their efficacy will be dependent on its power.
- Another option is to purchase a dedicated HVAC air purifier, that will attach to the central air system itself.
- These purifying attachments are great for removing airborne pollutants and pathogens before they even enter your home.
What is an Air Purifier and What Does it do?
Air purifiers, like the Medify Air, primarily work to purify the air in various rooms of a home. This is done when the purifier sucks in air from its immediate surroundings, filters it, and then blows it back out as purified air.
Does an Air Purifier Work With Central Air?
If you are asking if an air purifier or air filter will work in tandem with a central air conditioning unit, such as an HVAC, then yes. Any modern air purifier will filter the air released from a central air conditioning unit, though the amount of air it is able to successfully purify will depend on its overall power. As well as maintenance, which is why you want to get an easy-to-clean air purifier.
Warning
Any modern air purifier will filter the air released from a central air conditioning unit, though the amount of air it is able to successfully purify will depend on its overall power.
Whole-House Air Purifier Add-ons
If you have a central air conditioning system, such as an HVAC unit, there are many air purifying add-ons that simply attach to the unit itself. These can be a fairly economical and efficient way to filter air at the source as soon as the HVAC blows it out.
Benefits of Using a Whole-House Air Purifier Attachment
There are a number of benefits when it comes to choosing to place an air purifier attachment inside of an HVAC or central air conditioning unit.
Filters and Purifies Air
Many consumers believe that an HVAC unit must already have a filter or multiple filters in place for the purpose of purifying the air. This can be the case, though it is not always. Some central air conditioning systems have a single filter, while others have none. In other words, it can be a good idea to attach a dedicated air purifier to an HVAC system just in case it lacks an air filter of any kind. Even it already has an air filter installed, another one can never hurt.
Reduced Airborne Pollutants and Pathogens
An HVAC air purifier will remove pollutants and pathogens before they even enter your living space. This can include dust, dust mites, mold, spores of any kind, bacteria, virus particles, VOCs, eliminate odors, and more. Having one of these installed on your system can give you peace of mind.
Air purifiers with HEPA can also help reduce the symptoms of pet allergies.
F.A.Q.
Air filter vs. air purifier. Do you really need both?
You probably already have both, as most air purifiers include one or more air filters. Sometimes air filters themselves are referred to as air purifiers.
If my home’s air filters are clean when I change them, are they really working?
They could be clean to the naked eye but still filled with tiny particles of dust, bacteria, mold, and more. Just because a filter appears to be clean does not mean that the purifier is not working.
Can air purifiers filter the outdoor air that enters your home?
Sure they can, though this will depend on the power of your air purifier and the amount of air you are getting into the home.
STAT: According to the federal Environmental Protection Agency, the air inside can be at minimum 2 to 5 times more polluted than outside. (source)
REFERENCES:
- https://www.epa.gov/coronavirus/air-cleaners-hvac-filters-and-coronavirus-covid-19
- https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2018-07/documents/guide_to_air_cleaners_in_the_home_2nd_edition.pdf
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heating,_ventilation,_and_air_conditioningr
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_purifier
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_ioniser
