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24.10.2024
Brooke Kirshne
The problem of exposure to harmful particles from the indoor environment is increasing rapidly. If someone is exposed to airborne particles like dust, pollen, pet dander, mold spores, etc. for a longer period of time then there is a chance of getting health problems. This issue also decreases the comfort level and can cause SBS (sick-building syndrome). SBS means a person will have symptoms like fever or cold inside a building or house until that person doesn’t leave the place.
So it is important to solve this problem as soon as possible. An air scrubber helps to fix this issue very efficiently. So in this blog, the readers will learn everything about this device that helps to improve the indoor environment. For example, how does it work and what does it do? These questions will be answered in the following sections of this blog. So readers should read every topic which is discussed in this blog carefully.
What Is An Air Scrubber?
An air scrubber is a type of air filtration device that can connect with the HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system. It removes contaminants, gasses, and pathogens from the indoor air effectively. Many people think that air scrubbers and air purifiers are the same but they are not. These two filtration systems perform the same task but they are very different from each other. An air scrubber consists of many components and here they are:
- Primary Filter: The primary filter is one of the main components of an air scrubber. Usually, it is a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter that helps to capture small airborne particles of size less than 1 micrometer (microns).
- Carbon Filter: An air scrubber not only captures airborne particles but also removes harmful gasses. A carbon filter makes this possible for the scrubber. It removes toxic gasses like VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and odors efficiently.
- Pre-Filter: The pre-filter helps the air scrubber eliminate large airborne contaminants that can cause damage to the other components. By removing large particles the pre-filter ensures a good amount of airflow.
- Blower: A blower is the main component of an air scrubber because without it air filtration is not possible. The blower is a fan that pulls the air from the indoor environment. Some types of blowers can adjust the speed of the fan.
- UV Light: Some air scrubbers have UV light to provide effective air purification. The UV light helps to remove airborne pathogens like viruses, bacteria, and other microorganisms efficiently.
How Does An Air Scrubber Work
An air scrubber works in different stages that help it to remove pollutants from the indoor air efficiently. These stages ensure that the indoor environment is filled with safe air so that people inside a home can breathe easily. Here are the 6 stages of air filtration of an air scrubber:
Stage 1: Blower: In the initial stage, the blower (fan) pulls the air from the indoor environment. It makes sure that the air is getting pulled and goes inside the air scrubber efficiently.
Stage 2: Pre-Filter: In the second stage, the blower sends the polluted air to the pre-filter. The air passes through this filter and the large airborne particles get captured by it. After this, the air goes through the next stages.
Stage 3: Primary Filter: The air that is filtered by the pre-filter goes to the primary filter (HEPA filter) in the third stage. Here small airborne particles that have a size of less than 1 micron are captured.
Stage 4:Carbon Filter: The gaseous substances don’t get captured by the primary filter. So in the fourth stage, the carbon filter removes most of the gaseous substances from the air which enhances the filtration process.
Stage 5: UV Light: In the sixth stage, pathogens like viruses and bacteria that survived through all stages are eliminated by the UV light. When the air passes through the UV light all pathogens get killed as a result clean air is provided.
Stage 6: Blower: In the last stage, the filtered air goes to the blower again. The blower throws the air into the indoor environment and this cycle repeats again and again to keep the air pure.
Types Of Air Scrubbers
For residential purposes, the air scrubbers have two types. Integrated air scrubbers and portable air scrubbers. Both of them provide air filtration but there is a huge difference between them. So here are two types of air scrubbers:
1. Integrated Air Scrubbers
Integrated air scrubbers are also known as whole-house air scrubbers because they are installed and connected to the HVAC system. These air scrubbers consist of rods that are coated with titanium oxide and UV light to eliminate contaminants from indoor air and the surface. The integrated air scrubbers apply UVGI (UV germicidal irradiation) cleaners inside the HVAC system. This includes a cooling system that helps eliminate microorganisms from indoor air. An experienced HVAC expert can easily connect this air scrubber to the ductwork.
2. Portable Air Scrubbers
Portable air scrubbers are flexible because they can be used in both residential and commercial places. They are effective at removing allergens, smoke, VOCs, and outdoor fumes. By doing this, the portable air scrubbers enhance the quality of indoor air. These filters consist of a HEPA filter, carbon filter, and pre-filter which helps to remove pathogens and odors from indoor air effectively. Portable air scrubbers don’t require any installation. These air scrubbers are portable, easy to move, and effective at providing clean air but they are not that efficient as compared to integrated air scrubbers.
What Does An Air Scrubber Do?
An air scrubber can do many things that provide a lot of benefits to its users. These benefits not only provide a clean indoor environment but also protect from health risks that can be caused due to airborne pollutants. So here are some of the key things that an air filter can do:
1. Eliminates Outdoor Fumes And Pollutants
Today people are more allergic than ever because harmful fumes like ozone, sulfur dioxide, diesel exhaust fumes, and nitrogen dioxide are present in the outdoor air. These fumes are very harmful to the health of any person. Asthma attacks and allergic reactions to these fumes are very common in urban areas. When these fumes enter inside a house then its indoor environment also becomes unsafe. An air scrubber is efficient at removing these outdoor fumes with the help of its multiple stages of air filtration. So people who are spending most of their time inside their homes should use an air scrubber.
2. Reduce Allergens
The indoor environment is filled with a lot of allergens like pollen, mold spores, pet dander, smoke, dust, dirt, etc. These allergens can trigger allergic reactions or worsen the asthma condition. If this problem is not fixed timely then individuals who have any kind of respiratory issue will face difficulty breathing inside their homes. In this kind of situation, an air scrubber will help. Its main purpose is to pull all of the air that is filled with allergens. By doing this, the air scrubber ensures that no one inside a house gets any discomfort or allergic reactions.
3. Removes VOCs
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are very common in many homes. These gasses are released from products like cleaners, paint coats, air fresheners, aerosol sprays, etc. VOCs can cause serious health problems if an individual is exposed to them for a long time. These gasses may not seem harmful because of their good smell but inhaling them can cause issues like cancer. An air scrubber is an effective way to eliminate these harmful VOCs. It has a carbon filter which is efficient at eliminating gasses like VOCs by adsorbing their molecules as a result the indoor environment becomes free of any harmful gaseous substances.
4. Decreases Level Of Carbon Dioxide
People who like to have a lot of plants in their homes should know that the level of carbon dioxide in their homes will be high. During the night the plants release carbon dioxide. If individuals don’t keep proper ventilation in their house then the amount of carbon dioxide will increase. This can cause problems like breathlessness, high blood pressure and heart rates, dizziness, etc. An air scrubber is effective at decreasing the level of carbon dioxide from the indoor air. So using an air scrubber in homes that have many plants is a wise decision.
Conclusion
Having good indoor air quality is essential because it promotes many things like good health and living comfort. The air inside a home is filled with many pollutants like pollen, dust, pet dander, and harmful gasses like VOCs. Exposure to these things can cause health risks like allergies, asthma, and even cancer. An air scrubber is the best solution to make indoor air free of these harmful airborne particles and gaseous substances. The air scrubbers have many layers of filters like pre-filter, primary filter (HEPA), and carbon filter which ensures that indoor air is free of every type of pollutant.
Aur scrubbers are available in two types for residential purposes: integrated air scrubbers and portable air scrubbers. Both of them are different because one requires professional installation and another doesn’t. An air scrubber helps to eliminate outdoor fumes, reduces allergens, removes VOCs, and decreases the level of carbon dioxide from indoor air. So to maintain a comfortable and healthy indoor environment an air scrubber is important. If you are a person who is looking for an air filter then Custom Filters Direct will help you to get it. We provide high-quality customized filters to our clients. For more information call us at (877) 556-2862.
