Air Cleaner Installation

Improve indoor air quality for your family

There are three ways to reduce air pollutants in your home and improve indoor air quality: remove problems at their source, improve ventilation, and install an air cleaning system.

If you or a family member suffer from respiratory problems, you probably already know that it's important to remove any surface or material that attracts dust or dust mites. Removing carpet, drapes, upholstered furniture, and washing bedding in hot water goes a long way toward controlling allergens. Mold and mildew can be controlled by repairing leaks and reducing humidity with improved ventilation and efficient exhaust fans in kitchens and baths.

Once you've taken care of the basics, choosing an air cleaner may be a further option. To get the most value for your money, do a little research on your own. Air cleaners come in dozens of styles using a variety of technologies from electronic air cleaners to ion producing generators. Assess performance of the various choices by considering the following:

• efficiency. What is removed and how much as air moves through the device?
• air flow. How much air is handled at what rate? The key is finding a system that will remove pollutants faster than they are generated.
• total volume of air space to be cleaned. The system or device needs to be large enough to manage the entire building if necessary.
• maintenance requirements. A system that requires considerable maintenance but doesn't receive it on schedule may degrade in its performance.

When selecting a contractor to install an air cleaner, ask for copies of any state-required licensing and insurance. At the same time, get references. Between qualifying your contractor and researching your air cleaner, you'll be able to create an optimum solution to promote the health of your family.