An air scrubber is an HVAC device that is used to purify the air of contaminants. The extent of the air scrubber’s germ-extermination ability is impressive. It exterminates particulates such as pollen, volatile organic compounds, and dander, creating organisms such as viruses and mold, and smoke-like odors. It cleans the air and can exterminate germs on surfaces like countertops or doorknobs. The air scrubbers release particles that travel throughout your home, attracting germs off surfaces and pulling them back via your HVAC system to be filtered outside your indoor air.
An air scrubber consists of a blower, a primary filter (HEPA filter), a carbon filter which may be optional, and a pre-filter. These units work together to remove airborne contaminants via the filter. The blower sucks the air, passed via different filters, each filter’s specific purpose. The pre-filter catches larger particles, while the optional carbon filter removes different air chemicals, gas, or vapor molecules. The last filter that air flows through is the HEPA or primary filter that is used for taking out the tiny particles as small as 0.3 microns left out by the previous filter. The clean air is then blown out of the air scrubber with the assistance of the blower.
Benefits of Air Scrubbers
Some benefits of using air scrubbers are that they purify the air by pollutant removal as well as pet odors, cigarette smoke, food odors, mold smells, and spores. They greatly help improve your well-being and health, reducing allergies, fatigue, headaches, nausea, and sinus problems.
They also improve your energy levels by providing clean air and are 50 times more potent than HVAC systems in controlling and eliminating airborne pathogens and contaminants. Installing an air scrubber reduces the workload of an HVAC system hence increasing its lifespan and work rate.
How Long Does an Air Scrubber Take?
The duration that an air scrubber should be left functioning in an indoor space depends on various factors, including the space conditions. 24 to 48 hours is recommended to thoroughly scrub the air with the air units doing four to six exchanges per hour, which effectively aids in the cleaning and filtration of the airspace.
Categories of Air Scrubbers
There are two primary sorts of air scrubbers: dry and wet scrubbing.
The air scrubbers suck the air via a filter or a damp pad in wet scrubbing. This results in trapping the contaminants and particulate matter freely floating in the air. This method is best suitable for industrial and commercial settings, removing 99 percent of the airborne and pollution particulate matter.
In dry scrubbing, it utilizes a dry filter for cleaning the air. The dry filter is a sorbent material used to remove acid from gas effectively. Air is sucked through the dry filter and traps pollutants and contaminants, releasing clean air to your indoor environment. Dry scrubbers are primarily used with combustion sources but can also be used in wastewater treatment plants that remove noxious odors.
Types of Air Scrubbers
Air scrubbers come in many types that fit any conditions, environment, and particulate waste. They have been engineered to specialize in specific types of pollutants, chemicals, and toxic substances, developing air scrubbers that target one or many pollutants. Common examples include ammonia scrubbers, dust scrubbers, venturi scrubbers, gas scrubbers, chlorine scrubbers, and sulfuric acid scrubbers.
Ammonia scrubbers contain aqueous ammonia solutions with high vapor pressure preventing plain water from recycling in dry, wet, or packed scrubber units. Water is discarded after each pass via the air scrubber. Dust scrubbers are injected water that mounts particulates from the waste stream gas and collects them for lockdown. The treated air stream is let out via the exhaust stack.
Venturi scrubbers can handle gas streams that contain moisture or are high temperatures. They can remove pollutant gas at the same time as the particulate. Gas scrubbers ensure the appropriate contact time between the scrubbing liquid and gas occurs. It uses a scrubbing vessel with a recycle pump, system fan, mist eliminator, controls and instrumentation, and exhaust stack.
Chlorine scrubbers, especially wet chlorine scrubbers, use a multi-stage removal process depending on the initial contaminant loading. Sulfuric acid scrubbers remove pollutants by efficiently injecting water into the gas stream.
Contact a Professional Today
Seeking the services of a certified professional will give you peace of mind in deciding the best air scrubber to purchase. It will also ensure you get quality services according to your budget and current needs. For the best reliable heating and air conditioning services in Northglenn, CO, turn to Unique Heating & Air Conditioning Inc.. We are experienced and knowledgeable with NATE-certified technicians ready to handle your installation, repairs, and maintenance services.
We are proud to be a BBB-accredited business with an A+ rating and further certification from the Environmental Protection Agency. Our phone lines are available 24/7, and we offer 0% financing upon credit approval. We also offer a 10-year warranty on newly installed equipment and a five-year labor warranty with annual maintenance on your system.
For more information on air scrubbers, contact Unique Heating & Air Conditioning Inc. today!