Air Filter vs. Air Purifier: Why Your HVAC Filter Isn't Enough

Every homeowner wants to have clean air in their home, which is why it’s important to understand the difference between an air purifier and your HVAC’s air filter.

If you have a heating and cooling system, then you already have an air filter that is part of your home’s air conditioner, furnace, or HVAC system. But is an air filter enough to keep your home’s indoor air quality as high as you want it to be?

Let’s take a closer look at how your HVAC air filter works, what an air purifier is, and how both are necessary for optimal indoor air quality.

Do I Need an Air Purifier?

While an air filter is built-in to your HVAC system, an air purifier is a stand-alone appliance designed to do one job: purify the air, by removing dangerous fumes and finer particles that an HVAC filter doesn’t touch.

What exactly are you inhaling without a standalone air purifier? Here’s the short list:

• Dust particles
• Dust mites
• Pollen
• Pet dander
• Mold
• Mildew
• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

Just reading the list makes most homeowners feel uncomfortable. It’s worse if you or your family members have allergies, asthma, or other respiratory health concerns. These are not items you want to have floating throughout the air, potentially worsening symptoms. Your HVAC air filter simply isn’t enough to clear the air. Only an air purifier can thoroughly clean the air in your home.

How an Air Purifier Works

An air purifier utilizes denser, stronger filters that effectively remove a wide variety of particles from the air. The result is fresher, cleaner indoor air that not only supports better respiratory health but helps to neutralize odors in the home.

Air Filter vs. Air Purifier—Do You Really Need Both?

Most HVAC system air filters are only able to trap larger dust and dirt particles from the air. They are designed to keep the system running optimally and to reduce wear and tear on the HVAC – not to make your indoor air perfectly clean. Still, HVAC filters certainly have a bearing on indoor air quality, and choosing the right filter is important. Learn more about choosing the best HVAC air filter for allergies by checking out this blog.

While the right air filters can make a difference in the air quality and improve the performance of your HVAC system, heating and cooling experts recommend an air purifier to take indoor air quality to the next level. When pulmonary health is a concern or you simply want the cleanest air possible in your home, you need a stand-alone air purification appliance.

Turn to Aire Serv for Help Cleaning Your Home’s Air

Ready to experience cleaner air in your home? Reach out to our local indoor air quality experts at Aire Serv^® to learn more about top air purifier options. Whether you live in an older home, suffer from allergies or health problems, or simply want to feel good about the quality of your indoor, we can help. Schedule an appointment online or give us a call.