What Is an Air Scrubber? 

Did you know that indoor air quality has been ranked as one of the top five environmental risks to public health by the EPA? What’s even worse, some of the items and products that seem the most innocent could be contributing the most to the poor quality of your indoor air. Even some products like air fresheners which are marketed toward keeping your air clean could be filling the air with contaminants and affecting your health negatively. 

If all of this is sounding a little too gloomy and making you want to move to a cabin in the forest, don’t worry! There are lots of ways to improve the air quality in your home. One of these is an air scrubber. Air scrubbers are designed to safely rid your air of VOCs, mold, germs, allergens, and more. They are installed right into your HVAC system and continually work to make the air in your home clean and healthy. 

So, what is an air scrubber, how does it work, is it a safe option for your family, and is it as effective as it claims to be? As a dependable HVAC contractor in Springdale, AR, and the surrounding areas, our team at Stith Plumbing & HVAC is ready to answer all of your questions and help you decide if it is something you need in your home. 

What Is Contaminating Your Indoor Air? 

Before you get an air scrubber, you may want to know if the air Conditioner is bad enough in your home to warrant having one installed. Unless you live in an environment that is very different from the one that most people have in Springdale, AR, and across the country, you are probably surrounded by things that can contaminate your air. The fabric that your furniture is made from, your carpets, the paint on your walls, and the materials that your home is built with can all put VOCs into the air. Skincare products, cleaners, perfumes, air fresheners, and candles can do the same thing. 

Not only that, but every time you cook, you are also putting contaminants and odors into the air which can take a long time to go away. Allergens from pets and plants can also accumulate inside, as can mold, bacteria, and viruses. Most homes need a good way to purify the air.

What Are VOCs? 

VOCs, otherwise known as volatile organic compounds, are a group of carbon-based chemicals that have a couple of things in common. They aren’t very soluble in water, and they can evaporate quickly at room temperature (they have a high vapor pressure). This means that they can more easily end up in the air that you breathe. When this happens, it’s called “off-gassing” and it can be harmful to your health. 

What Is an Air Scrubber and How Does It Work? 

Air scrubbers work by utilizing two types of technology to clean the air. They use ActivePure® Technology and air ionization to eradicate harmful particles. Air scrubbers are the only air purifiers with Certified Space Technology. Here’s how both technologies work together to fight odors and contaminants: 

ActivePure® Technology

ActivePure ® Technology takes water and air molecules and turns them into oxidizers. These molecules are safe for you, but they are hard on contaminants. They permeate your home, even making their way into hard-to-reach areas like the cracks of your couch and the space behind your picture frames. Once there, they attack allergens, VOCs, germs, and other contaminants. 

Air Ionization 

Air ionization is a technology that puts negative ions into your air. These can attach to microscopic particles. They all clump together until they are heavy enough to fall onto surfaces in your home. When you wipe down your surfaces or vacuum, you clean whatever is left over. 

Air scrubbers are powerful enough to get rid of cooking smoke, odors, mold and fungus spores, and the product of off-gassing quickly. 30 minutes is enough to reduce many pathogens by more than 90%. This type of technology is being used in many settings including hospitals, hotels, and restaurants to rid the air and surfaces of everything from Norovirus to E. Coli.

What Are the Benefits of Air Scrubbers?

Having an air scrubber in your home can put any worries you have about poor indoor air quality to rest. And if enjoying fresh, clean air with every breath isn’t enough, you’ll also be getting other benefits, too. Here are some of the other ways that having an air scrubber can improve your quality of life:

No More Odors

When you have an air scrubber, you won’t have to put up with lingering odors anymore. Even if you have pets or you accidentally burn dinner, all of these odors will be controlled in every room with this technology. 

HVAC Savings

You may not realize how much more efficiently your HVAC system works when the air filter is clean and the whole system is free from dirt and dust. Reducing the contaminants in the air will not only help your HVAC system to run better on a daily basis, but it will also help it to last longer. You will also be able to avoid breakdowns that can happen as a result of dirty filters. 

Reduce Indoor Allergies With Stith

Have you ever felt like your allergies were even worse indoors? Pollen from the outside can collect on surfaces in your home and settle into your fabrics. If you suffer from asthma or allergies as a result of dust, mold, pet dander, or pollen, an air scrubber is a good way to give you and your family a healthy retreat from allergens. 

Air scrubbers are the difference you may be looking for in your indoor air quality. They can be an amazing help to people who suffer from allergies and asthma and individuals who are immunocompromised. It is also beneficial for anyone else who wants to limit their exposure to VOCs, reduce germs in the home, and keep dust levels low. If you are interested in having an air scrubber installed in your HVAC system, you can contact a dependable HVAC contractor for information. At Stith Plumbing & HVAC, we can install air scrubbers in homes in Springdale and neighboring areas. Call or message us today!