As the winter drags on, and we stay cooped up with our stale sneezes and whatever germs the kids bring home from school, we’re at serious risk of getting sick. And we may have already used a lot of our personal time off, either because we were sick ourselves or because we were staying home to care for sick family members. What can we do about it?
The real problem is everything that’s floating around in your indoor air. But you can’t simply open all the windows in February to get fresh air. You’d freeze! To get your air clean, you need an air purifier in Toms River, NJ. How do they work? Do they really kill germs? Let’s take a close look.
The Pathogens in Your Air
What’s really drifting about in the air at your house? There are a lot of things, actually! But in terms of pathogens—microbes that cause illness—there are three major categories. First, bacteria are single-celled organisms. Many of them are harmless or even good for you, like the ones that are used to culture cheese and yogurt. But many of them cause illness if breathed or ingested.
Second, there are viruses. Many of these have names you’re familiar with: influenza, rhinovirus, the common cold, COVID-19. Unlike bacteria, they can’t reproduce on their own and require your cells to do that job for them.
Third, there are fungi, or more precisely, the spores that mold colonies use to reproduce. These spores float along until they find a nice, dark, damp place where they can grow into a new mold colony. If breathed in, they can cause serious symptoms in allergy sufferers. Some molds are so toxic that they can make anyone sick, regardless of allergies.
The Power of Ultraviolet Light
An air purifier or germicidal light uses UV wavelengths to clean your air. With nothing but light, those nasty pathogens can be not just filtered from your air but actually killed. You see, the one thing these different microbes have in common is that they are very, very tiny. This means their structures are extremely delicate. The ultraviolet light can actually penetrate right through them, and it undoes the protein bonds that hold them together. Without these bonds, they can no longer cause anyone any trouble.
Whole House Air Purifiers
These purifiers do come in small, portable models intended for very small spaces or for situations where they need to be moved frequently. For example, if you’ve got a child headed off to live in a dorm room, and they’ll be in a different dorm next year, this is a perfect option. But they can’t handle the volume of air (and germs) in a whole house.
For that, you need a whole house air purifier. It goes inside your ductwork, so all the air circulating through your house will eventually pass through the field of UV light. And while it’s safe for you, since you’re not a tiny germ, it is a powerful light. Like the sun, you don’t want constant exposure to it. Installed inside your ducts, you’ll never be exposed to it at all!
Doesn’t that sound like a great way to breathe cleaner air? Contact us so we can help you choose the perfect air purifier for your home.
You’re More Comfortable With Atlantic Air Systems. Schedule your appointment with us today.