In the showdown of getting professional duct cleaning vs an air purifier, what matters is what’s most effective for improving air quality indoors. The best air purifiers typically come at a premium, especially those with high-efficiency particulate air filters. These may be individual rooms or whole-house air purifiers. Regardless of where you choose to invest, it’s essential to understand why air cleaners are a much better option than hiring air duct cleaners.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Cleaning your ducts has shown little scientific evidence of improving indoor air quality unless mold or a similar contaminant is present.
- Air cleaners, or purifiers, are the best way to contain odors from pets, clean up airborne particles, kill dust mites, and improve overall health markers.
- The basic consensus is to skip the air duct cleaning cost and instead invest in many air cleaning devices for the best results.
Comparing Duct Cleaning to Air Purifiers
Understanding how professional duct cleaning vs air purifiers turns out is the difference between having healthier air and wasting your money, especially if you’d prefer a fan over an air purifier. Portable air purifiers are a better choice for those on a budget since larger models can be quite an investment. If you’re handy, you can even build a residential air cleaner by following a few directions. Make sure to read our guide to DIY air purifiers vs other air purifiers for more tips and information.
Explaining Duct Cleaning
While air cleaning technology is prevalent, there is also regular maintenance that you should perform for both air sanitizers and purifiers. Dirty air ducts can wreak havoc on your HVAC systems. But is cleaning dirty air ducts good for your health? In general, not really. You should clean dirty air ducts now and again, but air cleaning technologies like purifiers are far more effective. Knowing more is always better too. For example, how does an electronic air cleaner stack up against a filter?
Benefits of Duct Cleaning
There are a few positives that come from duct surface disinfection:
- It can help maintain the integrity of your ducts
- Sometimes it is a solution for air duct pest control
- Air duct cleaners can remove mold and other hazardous materials
Drawbacks of Duct Cleaning
A few drawbacks might make you think twice about hiring air duct cleaning services:
- Duct surface disinfection isn’t shown to improve the transmission of pathogens
- Indoor spaces are better served by air-cleaning devices that filter air constantly
Explaining Air Purifiers
Also known as air cleaners, these marvels of advanced technology are perfect for those who want to reduce levels of indoor air pollutants. All air cleaning technologies can improve your overall health markers by enhancing the environment in which you live.
Insider Tip
Investing in a high-quality air system means little if you don’t make sure that it has a high-quality HEPA filter, as well.
Benefits of Air Purifiers
You’ll enjoy several benefits of having air cleaners in your home:
- Lower levels of airborne contaminants like airborne dust mite feces
- Air-cleaning devices make your living space healthier to live in
- They can clean outdoor pollution brought in through things like air conditioners
Drawbacks of Air Purifiers
As with anything, there are a few drawbacks to consider:
- More effective models are going to be expensive
- Some air purifiers can be noisy
Which is the Better Option?
For improving your overall health, invest in an excellent air purification system. Whether you go with an air scrubber, portable air purifiers, or any other type, you’ll enjoy far better air quality. Cleaning an air duct path is a good idea for general maintenance, but it won’t make you healthier in the long run.
Warning
Always close your windows when using your air purifier because they work far better in a closed space.
F.A.Q.
Is duct cleaning a waste of money?
Unfortunately, there isn’t a lot of science backing up cleaning your ducts. If you’re looking for relief from a health issue, installing a whole-house air purifier is a much better method.
Are add-on air purifiers for HVAC systems worth the money?
An air-conditioning (HVAC) system can have installed special filters, like a HEPA or carbon filter. They can help keep airborne pollutants out of your home and improve indoor air quality.
Do I need a whole-house air purifier add-on for HVAC systems?
A whole-home air purifier can be a fantastic addition to your home. A whole-home system provides excellent filtration to keep air pollutants from agitating acute health symptoms.
Why do you want to clean your ducts?
There are a few reasons you might want to have your ducts cleaned. For example, if you suspect mold growth, then you’ll need to get that cleaned out.
STAT: It is more common for children to have asthma than adults, and nearly 1 out of every 13 children have asthmatic symptoms. (source)
