Air Cleaners in DC & MD

Fact: Indoor air pollution is a serious problem in many Montgomery County, Maryland and NW Washington, DC homes. The EPA estimates that indoor air pollution can be up to one hundred times worse than outdoor air pollution! Fortunately, James A. Wheat & Sons provides a full lineup of quality Carrier air cleaners to help keep the air that you and your family breathe clean.

Indoor air cleaners help alleviate allergy and asthma symptoms by addressing indoor air quality issues such as indoor air pollution, airborne bacteria, dust and cigarette smoke. So whether you’re in the market for allergy relief or are simply looking for a cleaner home or office, an air cleaner may be the answer to your problem.

There are different types of air cleaners to choose from:

HEPA air cleaners

HEPA (high-efficiency particulate arrestor) air filters can be found in air cleaners, air purifiers, and even some high-quality vacuum cleaners. HEPA air cleaners operate at very high efficiency ratings – many times up to 99.97% efficiency! In addition, HEPA filters can filter out dust, smoke, pollen, pet dander, dust mites and other particles as small as .3 microns in size. Air cleaners using HEPA filters can also be fitted with UV light systems to kill viruses, bacteria, and fungi that end up in the filter.

One limitation with HEPA air cleaners is that they are highly effective at pulling pollutants out of the air, but only in the room they are in. Many people who have HEPA air cleaners have more than one – mainly in bedrooms, home offices, and family rooms. Also, you’re going to want to install a HEPA air cleaner with a fairly high number of exchanges per hour (eight or higher). Anything less than this will probably not make a noticeable difference in your indoor air quality.

Ozone-ionizer air cleaners

Many people think that ozone-ionizer air cleaners and HEPA air cleaners are the same thing – in reality, however, they operate quite differently. In fact, ozone-ionizer air cleaners don’t even use filters!

Ozone-ionizer air cleaners work by first creating ozone, which penetrates the cell structure of the odor-causing particles, bacteria, or viruses, rupturing the cell wall and destroying the contaminant. This makes ozone-ionizer air cleaners highly effective at eliminating odors caused by cigar and cigarette smoke.

After the ozonation process has occurred, the ozone-ionizer air cleaner begins the process of ionization. There are two types of ionization:

• Needlepoint ionization involves negatively charging the air directly in front of the air cleaner, which causes the air molecules to attach themselves to pollutants in the air, dragging them down to the ground. Needlepoint ionizers usually have an operable range of about five to seven feet around the air cleaner.
• Radio ionization uses specialized (and safe) radio waves that ionize the air in a 50-foot radius. Air cleaners that use radio ionization can operate through walls. Depending on where the radio ionizer is located, one single air conditioner can cover an entire home!

Selecting an air cleaner, air filter, or air purifier

When choosing an air cleaner for your home or building, the most important thing to think about is what you want to use filter for. If you want to trap airborne allergens or biological contaminants, HEPA air cleaners the way to go. For odors, ozone-ionizer air cleaners are going to be your best bet.

If you are located in Montgomery County, MD or NW Washington, DC and are in need of allergy or asthma relief, or you just want to clean up the air in your home or office, contact James A. Wheat & Sons today. We have a full line of Carrier air cleaners to fit your needs and budget.

FAQs About Air Cleaners