What Is a Whole-House Air Purifier?

For many people, seasons bring new breathing challenges in the form of airborne allergens. Even without the springing up of flowers in April or the falling of pollen in September, tiny dust debris and other particles in your home can create issues. And it's not just respiratory systems that can be frustrated by low-quality home air — these problems can also make it difficult to keep your house as clean as you might like.

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Enter the whole-house air purifier, a product designed to clean the air throughout your entire abode.

You may have seen air purifier systems that you set up in a specific room. They typically work by passing the air through an air filter of some type to remove debris and particles, including dander, dust and other allergens. Did you know, however, that you can install an entire home air purifier? These systems work to cleanse the air in your entire home, so you don't have to install separate appliances in each room. 

How Does a Whole-House Air Filtration System Work?

These air filtration systems work by passing the air within your home through filters to remove unwanted particles. There are several filtration methods, but the concept is the same for each: Air is pulled from your home, passed through the filter and pumped back into your space after being cleaned.

Some filters work as simple physical barriers, trapping tiny particles as the air is forced through. Others include an electrical charge that helps capture those particles. 

Depending on the type of home air purifier you install and the filters you use, the system can capture:

• Dander
• Dust
• Pollen
• Dirt
• Some odors
• Mold
• Smoke
• Certain bacteria and viruses

However, these systems don't tend to remove certain types of gases, such as carbon monoxide.

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Are Whole-Home Air Purifiers Effective?

When it comes to air purifiers for the home, whole-home options tend to be more effective than putting various air purifiers in each room. This is because you can invest in a singular system that impacts all the air in your home. You don't have to worry about turning things on or off, as the air purifier is always working.

However, how effective your system is at removing particulates from the air depends in part on how well-maintained it is. You may need to change or clean filters regularly to keep your system running well, for example. The type of system and whether it's rated for your space also play a role in whether it's as effective as you'd like. 

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Where and How Are Whole-House Air Purifiers Installed?

Whole-house air purifiers are installed within your HVAC system. This way, the air is purified as it's cycled through your heating and cooling system. This is one reason these systems are more effective than stand-alone air purifiers in each room. However, this also makes the systems relatively expensive. You may want to involve a professional HVAC technician in the installation and maintenance of the system.

The good news is that, after the initial cost of installation, these systems are cost-effective and can do a good job of cleaning the air in your home. If you deal with seasonal allergies that tend to follow you indoors, fight allergies related to dust or indoor contaminants or live in an especially dusty or high-traffic area, a whole-home air purifier can help you keep your indoor air quality up and enjoy your living space more.