Indoor air quality should be very important to your household. In the presence of low air quality, it is more difficult to concentrate and perform routine tasks. Over time, polluted indoor air will even pose a threat to your health. Sometimes, air purifiers just aren’t enough to get the job done. Activated carbon filtration is one of the newest IAQ options on the market. If you’ve never tried this approach, you’ll be surprised by just how effective it can be. Here are nine ways that activated carbon filtration improves your indoor air quality.
1. Causes Scientific Breakdown
Activated carbon is an interesting substance that is often called the universal absorbent. Activated carbon attracts a number of liquids and gases that stick to the material. Although it is a synthetic material, it has a lot of desirable natural properties. Activated carbon is frequently used in spacecrafts, submarines, and gas masks. Activated carbon isn’t toxic to the human touch, but it’s still not a good idea to play around with the powder. In recent years, manufacturers have been applying activated carbon to many HVAC purposes.
2. Provides a Larger Surface Area
Activated carbon filtration also features a larger surface area than many of its counterparts. Intuitively, this makes sense. A filter that comes in contact with a larger volume of air will be able to remove more particles. At the same time, it’s not good for these filters to take up a huge amount of space. Carbon filtration is specifically designed to maximize surface area while minimizing volume. The filter’s rigid edges are much more effective than rounded edges. The carbon is also denser and more rigid than other materials. This means that you don’t have to change the filter as frequently.
3. Soaks Up Gases
As mentioned above, regular filters simply don’t catch certain gases. These gases are composed of extremely fine particles that won’t get caught in a traditional filter. It’s nearly impossible to create microscopic holes that catch these particles but not the air. Carbon filtration is a much more reliable option. Because carbon naturally soaks up these gases, you don’t have to worry about a porous surface and whether it is too weak. Activated carbon filtration also takes up less room than a traditional system. Whether the carbon exists as a block or as a powder, a little goes a long way. Overall, this saves a lot of space compared to a full filtration unit.
4. Removes Allergens
Allergies and asthma are triggered by a number of particles in the air. Fortunately, activated carbon filtration catches all of the usual suspects. Just a single carbon filter will remove the vast majority of airborne solids, allowing you to breathe deeply and with confidence. In the spring and fall, you need to be extra careful about allergies. You can easily double the amount of activated carbon to ensure that nothing gets through your door. In the winter and summer, when your allergies are under control, you can revert to the normal amount at a moment’s notice.
5. Removes Harmful Chemicals
It’s hard to emphasize just how many harmful chemicals are in the air. Carbon monoxide and benzene are two of the deadliest. Prolonged exposure to either of these often leads to hospitalization. The good news is that these substances usually exist in traces and don’t pose a serious risk on a daily basis. The bad news is that a traditional filter doesn’t always catch these particles. On the other hand, activated carbon filtration is a solid defense against both carbon monoxide and benzene. Ricin is another chemical that should be on your radar. In this regard, carbon filtration isn’t only there to make the air smell good; it is also a legitimate way of keeping you and your family safe from any harmful gases.
6. Increases MERV Ratings
Traditional filters are usually all about their MERV ratings. A MERV rating specifies how many particles can and cannot get through the filter. The best filters have high MERV ratings that mitigate the vast majority of particles. The worst filters are highly porous and have low MERV ratings. When it comes to activated carbon filtration, you don’t have to worry about this sort of rating. It’s simply a question of whether activated carbon attracts the gas in question. If the answer is yes, you’ll be able to fully eliminate this gas from your home.
7. Handles Larger Particles
As discussed above, the primary benefit of activated carbon filtration is its ability to soak up minuscule airborne particles. At the same time, this type of filter does a decent job of handling larger particles. Although a standard filter might be best for this purpose, a carbon filter has nearly the same effect. From this perspective, activated carbon gives you the best of both worlds. Even though you might know what sort of contaminants are in your home right now, things can easily change. Your pet might start bringing in different pieces of debris, and a factory might open up nearby that blows contaminants your way. Prepare for all of the above with activated carbon filtration.
8. Destroys Ozone
Ozone is one of the major components of smog that is harmful at the ground level. You’ve probably seen smog in large cities as it darkens the sky and makes the environment unpleasant. Smog is unhealthy to breathe in, and it can even intrude into your home in the worst-case scenario. Activated carbon filtration destroys ozone as it begins to form from the start. This doesn’t even let smog and ozone have a chance to infiltrate your home. It’s important to note that carbon filtration doesn’t just encounter dirty particles as they pass by. The filter actively traps foreign particles and prevents them from escaping. This is why you see tiny bubbles and specks on the filter. These specks trap particles and hold them until you are ready to change the filter.
9. Complements Other HVAC Devices
Lastly, activated carbon filtration is a great complement to your other HVAC devices. It’s a common misconception that you can only have one HVAC appliance running at a time. If you’re fully committed to improving your air quality, you’ll want all the help you can get. You should feel confident with activated carbon filtration in addition to an AC unit and maybe a ventilator. The best part is that you don’t have to constantly monitor the filtration system. Make sure to have a reserve supply of activated carbon so you don’t run out in the near future. From there, simply take a peek at the carbon periodically.
Installing Activated Carbon Filtration
Activated carbon filtration can drastically improve your indoor air quality. While regular filtration methods are a good place to start, carbon filtration takes it to another level. The team at [company_name] in Alpharetta, GA, can install activated carbon filtration in your home. We’re also very experienced with general heating and cooling solutions. If you want to improve the quality of your air, contact us today.
