Smart Technology for Cleaner Air

You’ve childproofed every electrical outlet in the house. You have baby gates in every doorway and at the top and bottom of the stairs. You’ve secured kitchen cabinets with safety locks, and your pantry is an organic supermarket. You’re all set with a healthy home, right? 

Have you considered the air everyone in your home is breathing? Having a smoke-free home and putting away the scented candles aren’t enough. Think about all the microscopic particles in the air: mold, dust, pollen, radon, cooking gases, and animal dander. Discover three smart technologies that can help to remove these pollutants and toxins from the air you and your family breathe.

Household Air Purifying Units

The technology for household units has come a long way over the last few years. Ranging in price from $100 to thousands of dollars, these units work overtime to trap common household air pollutants by using a filtration system. Keep these units running on a regular schedule to control dust mites and pollen or to clean the kitchen air after cooking.

Alternatively, decide whether you’d like to install a whole-house version or a single-room unit. Each type works over a specific square footage. You’ll need to replace the filters regularly, a factor which adds to their initial cost. Depending on how much you’d like to invest, units are available with automatic on and off timers, sensors for certain particles, and filter replacement indicators.

Portable Air Purifiers

These purifiers pack a lot of power into a small unit. Best for those who have chronic conditions such as asthma or a suppressed immune system due to illness — or for those who travel regularly through highly polluted outdoor environments such as major cities — these systems can go everywhere you do.

One type, the Wynd air purifier, is so small that it fits into a car cupholder and works to consistently monitor the air around you. Place it inside your little one’s stroller if you’re walking downtown, use it while traveling, or set it on your table at a restaurant. Compact and quiet, this air purifier creates a simple way to breathe easily no matter where you go.

UV Units

More energy efficient than regularly running a filtering unit, UV purifiers use light to kill pollutants as they travel through the air. With a UV system, particles are completely removed from the air instead of being trapped in a filter that needs replacing. These units are particularly helpful with bacteria and germs that cause illnesses, but they have a limited use for dust or other allergens. You’ll need to know where your sensitivities lie and weigh the benefits.

Once you’ve determined what you’d like to remove from your air and how much you’d like to invest, call a team of HVAC pros to help you assess your indoor air quality. They’ll be able to evaluate your home and your needs, and they’ll recommend systems that will work best for you.

When used together with basic homekeeping methods — such as regular vacuuming with HEPA filters, consistent fresh air through open windows and doors, bathroom and kitchen fans, indoor plants, and dehumidifiers – these technologies will have everyone in your family breathing cleaner air.