Does the air conditioner purify the air in your home? It’s a common question we get from residents in northern Virginia and throughout the area.

While the filter in your air conditioner can help remove some contaminants, they’re not the most effective solution for removing pollen, dander, smoke, smog, VOCs, and other pollutants from your indoor air.

You’ll need an air conditioner and an air purifier for superior comfort. That’s because one is designed specifically to cool your home, and the other to keep your home’s air clean.

What’s An Air Purifier & How Does It Work?

Air purifiers remove contaminants as small as .3 microns from the air in your home. There are two types of air purifiers: active and passive. Active air purification systems release negatively charged ions, which attach themselves to pollutants and cause them to stick to surfaces, where they can be collected and cleaned up.

Passive systems use air filters or ultraviolet germicidal radiation to trap or neutralize pollutants in the air. As the air flows through the purifier, the pollen, dust mites, VOCs, mold spores, etc., are neutralized and removed from the air. The higher the MERV rating, the more effective the process.   

Do Air Conditioners Purify Air?

Air conditioners help purify the air because their operation traps contaminants as they flow through the air filter. However, they can’t remove everything. That’s because some pollutants, such as smoke or fine particles, are too small to get trapped by the filter.

Some air conditioners are fitted with ionized, photocatalytic, or plasma stream air filters. These can remove some smoke, allergens, bacteria, and more.

How AC Systems & Air Purifiers Work

Air conditioners and air purifiers are complementary systems that work together to improve your comfort and air quality in your home. However, this only happens when you keep both systems in prime condition. This requires ensuring the AC is draining correctly and free of leaks. It also requires keeping both systems clean and properly maintained. 

When used in tandem, air conditioners and air purifiers will sterilize and purify the air while helping you achieve the optimal climate for your comfort.

Should I Open The Windows? 

So, you’ve purchased state-of-the-art air conditioners and a top-of-the-line air purifier. Does this mean you shouldn’t open your windows? Not quite. In fact, periodically opening your windows helps blow contaminants out of your home rather than keeping them inside.

While you shouldn’t open your windows on high pollution days, opening them to enjoy a breeze and a little fresh air will help you breathe easier and will reduce the number of toxins, VOCs, pollen, dander, etc., that your air filters and air purifiers have to remove from the air. 

Why Choose F.H. Furr?

At F.H. Furr Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning & Electrical, our indoor air quality specialists and certified, insured HVAC technicians are committed to providing superior solutions to our clients throughout the area. We adhere to strict quality standards and guarantee that if we wouldn’t install it in our home, we won’t install it in yours.

We hire “Absolutely the Best” people, and it shows in the superior results we deliver.

Contact F.H. Furr at (703) 690-0449 to schedule indoor air quality or AC services in northern Virginia, Washington, DC, or surrounding areas.