Air Cleaner Features That Impact Which Unit Is Right for Your Home’s Needs

by Greg Leisgang on March 27, 2014

Posted in: Indoor Air Quality

air cleanerFor many people who suffer from allergies, own pets, do crafts such as woodworking in their home, or who just want to improve their home's indoor air quality, air purifiers and air cleaners are powerful tools. But if you're in the market for an air quality appliance, selecting the right one can be a daunting task. 

Here are some features to consider, when you're looking for a cleaner that meets your specific needs:

  • Energy efficiency - Depending on how you plan to use the air cleaner, you might want a model that consumes little power and can be operated around the clock, or you might not care about the power requirements and plan to operate it in short bursts. Look for the wattage of the model, and ask if the vendor or manufacturer can provide you with an estimated annual cost to run.
  • Air changes per hour (ACH) - Rated after taking into consideration the size of the room in which the model is meant to operate, the ACH tells you how many times per hour the whole air content of the room will be cleaned, on average. For peak indoor air quality, look for an ACH of 4 or higher.
  • Clean air delivery rate (CADR) - Controlled by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM), this rating gives you an indication of how quickly the unit cleans the air. An AHAM label gives CADR numbers for three major pollutant categories: tobacco smoke, dust and pollen. Selecting a high CADR rating for the type of pollutant you're most concerned about can deliver a big boost to your indoor air quality.
  • Filter replacements - Not all air purifiers and air cleaners use filters, but for those that do, you should know how to maintain them. Check to see how to change a filter, if the filters for the unit are locally available, and how much they cost to replace.

To learn more about taking control of the indoor air quality in your greater West Chester area home, contact us today at Tri-County Heating & Cooling.

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