Education Hub

How Do I Protect My Home From Viruses?

Image of cardboard home with hand protecting it from viruses entering. Indoor air quality

We are all ultra-concerned about airborne viruses – especially with so much focus and discussion lately on the contagious coronavirus and the flu.

A1 Air Conditioning and Heating is pleased to offer a range of indoor air quality products that can help combat airborne pollutants, certain viruses and allergens in your home.

Every bit helps in improving the air quality in your home. Your family will thank you!

I have a high-quality filter on my furnace – doesn’t that help?

Yes, having a good conventional filter helps – and regularly changing them out can help by blocking particulates like dust mites, spores and pet dander. But this is only part of the job. The good news is that there are other newer technologies that can be used for more intensive air cleaning purposes.

Look at the whole pie

Airborne contaminants in your home are divided into thirds.

Conventional filtration is effective against particulates, like dust, but has no effect on the other two-thirds of the air. To really detoxify your home, you have to look at the whole pie.

Breakdown of airborne contaminants 

The other two thirds

The air in your home can also contain odors/VOC’s and mold/germs – often called biological contaminants floating around in your home.  It is there – you just can’t see it or always smell it.

What are VOC’s? 

Sounds complicated, doesn’t it? Simply put, VOC stands for volatile organic compounds. More commonly known as sometimes harmful odours/gases coming from household cleaners, new carpets, cooking, and chemical vapours (formaldehyde and toluene from paint) etc.

And what exactly are biological contaminants?

Sounds kind of serious and it can be. These are mold, mildew, and floating bacteria from various viruses. Destroying airborne micro-organisms will make the air in your home healthy, which lowers your chances of flu-related viruses.  And that is a good thing.

Can UV light kill COVID-19?

UV germicidal lights are known to kill viruses of many kinds. All we know right now is that UV light might kill coronavirus but it is not yet proven. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Vaporous hydrogen peroxide, ultraviolet germicidal irradiation, and moist heat are the most promising decontamination methods” for COVID-19 commonly called coronavirus. Testing is still in the early stages, but promising results are expected.

So, what is the answer for my home?

By installing air purification UV lights within your HVAC system, you can be confident that this will safely reduce both VOC’s and biological contaminants inside the air system and throughout your home.

A1 Air Conditioning and Heating sells APCO UV air purifiers that are designed to use short-wave ultraviolet light (UV-C light, the best kind to do the job) to inactivate airborne pathogens and microorganisms like mold, bacteria and certain viruses. Basically, the UV-C lights effectively kills the cells by destroying their DNA. Truly helping to keep the air clean and sterilized for you and your family.

How Do Ultraviolet Lights Work?

APCO® systems are installed in the central air system where they continuously remove airborne contaminants as they pass through a type of intense lightbox. APCO® technology is based on a process called photocatalytic oxidation (similar to the catalytic converter on cars).

So, this unique combination of UV-C light and activated carbon actually achieves unmatched microbial and odour reduction – all without producing any harmful ozone. Another good thing.

Germicidal UV-C light neutralizes VOC contaminants, leaving only harmless water vapour and CO2.

The result is clean, odour-free air throughout the home. Are you feeling better already?

 

Get Started Today… Improve Your Indoor Air Quality
Our licensed technicians at A1 can help identify the best solutions to keeping your family happy, healthy, and comfortable!

A1 Air Conditioning & Heating is proud to offer several home comfort solutions for improving your indoor air quality. Contact us today to learn more!

A1 Air Conditioning & Heating started as a family business in 1967 and 53 years later, we’re still family-owned and operated! We are one of the most trusted HVAC companies in southwest Ontario.

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