While the standard air filter installed in your heating and cooling system does a good job of removing large, inorganic particles from household air, maintaining indoor air quality isn’t its true primary purpose.

The air filter is mainly there to protect the parts in your air conditioner and furnace from excess wear and tear caused by dust and other particulates and to keep those particles from becoming embedded in the evaporator coil. This causes restriction in the airflow and freeze-ips. To ensure the quality of breathing air, particulates that are too small to be picked up by standard filters must be addressed, and that’s where air cleaners come in.

Whole-house Hybrid Electronic Mechanical Media Air Cleaners mount inside the return ducts of your HVAC system and treat the entire quantity of air in the home as it circulates through the ducts each day. Here’s how the technology works to safeguard all the air you breathe at home:

• Air passes into the ionization stage of the filter through a high-voltage grill. The electronic field gives airborne particulates either a positive or negative electronic charge. Charged particles are naturally attracted to surfaces with the opposite electric charge.
• Airflow reaches the Mechanical Media collector stage where the opposite charged media attracts and captures the particulates. The best of the whole-house hybrid cleaners are rated to capture particles as small as 0.3 microns — well into the microscopic range. This includes all common inorganic particles and many microorganisms like mold spores, pollen and bacteria. The best of these pack enough of a charge in the mechanical media to actually kill mold spores and bacteria.

Jon Wayne Heating & Air Conditioning is San Antonio’s largest local source of HVAC sales and service excellence. Contact us for more information about electronic air cleaners to protect every breath your family takes at home.

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Indoor air quality has gained increased attention as homeowners have become more energy-conscious and houses more airtight. The absence of ventilation with fresh outdoor air tends to make interior air stagnant. Airborne pollutants may accumulate to levels that exceed the concentration you’d encounter outdoors. Some of these contaminants like mold spores, pollen and bacteria are living microorganisms that multiply in the controlled environment of your home, increasing the potential for allergic reactions or respiratory symptoms in susceptible individuals.

Fortunately, air cleaning technology is advancing to meet the challenges of indoor air quality. Here are some of the air cleaner varieties to consider:

• HEPA room air cleaners offer medical-grade filtration and remove over 90 percent of particulates as small as 0.3 microns. HEPA units are generally suitable only as free-standing room air cleaners due to the restriction of airflow by the filter.
• Whole-house filters are installed inside your HVAC ducts and filter the entire volume of household air as it circulates. These filters have MERV (minimum efficiency reporting value) ratings as high as 16 and utilize high-efficiency filters with pleated cotton or polyester media.
• Hybrid air filters use the natural principles of ionization to cleanse the air of particulates. These units come in both room models and whole-house electronic units. They work by creating an electrical field to endow airborne particles with a negative or positive charge. As airflow passes through the filter, this causes the charged particles to stick to filter media with the opposite electric charge. Some actually kill the micro-organisms that are trapped.
• Ultraviolet (UV) light has germicidal properties that disrupt the DNA of airborne microorganisms like mold, fungi and bacteria that may continue to thrive even when captured inside filter media. When UV lamps are installed inside ductwork or added to whole-house filter arrays, the light destroys microorganisms.

Jon Wayne Heating & Air Conditioning is San Antonio’s largest HVAC sales and service provider. Ask our experienced pros to explain more of the benefits of installing air cleaner technology.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Jon Wayne Heating and Air Conditioning services  San Antonio and the surrounding communities of Seguin, New Braunfels, Bulverde, Boerne, and Comal County.  Visit our website to see our special offers to get started today!

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There are many types of air purifiers on the market, so how do you know which one to choose? An effective air purifier should be able to:

• Permanently remove particles. If a system uses ionization, it will typically charge pollutants so they stick to surfaces throughout your home, leading to more dust or a white film. A good air purifier should permanently trap particles inside the system, without releasing them again into your home.
• Operate efficiently over the long term. Ask your indoor air-quality expert about long-term efficiency. Many system ratings show their performance capabilities within the first hour of operation. But you’ll need your air purifier to function in a year as well as it did on its first day.
• Remove the smallest particles. Most problematic indoor air-quality sources that affect your health are tiny – as small as 0.1 microns (smaller than a pollen particle). So make sure the system you choose can address ultra-small particles.
• Remove gas and chemicals. Gases and chemicals found in your home’s air are also likely to cause health problems. If you’re going to invest in a system, make sure it can eliminate particles and gases and chemicals.

At Jon Wayne Heating & Air Conditioning we offer a range of indoor air-quality solutions, including ultraviolet light and dehumidification systems, electronic air cleaners and HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filtration. We generally recommend IQAir’s Perfect 16 air purifier to take care of indoor air-quality sources that impact your home comfort, as this system uses several technologies combined to address bacteria, mold, pet dander, dust and most other common household allergens.

Contact us today for more information, or to schedule an indoor air quality test. Jon Wayne serves the Greater San Antonio area.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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Before you can select an air purifier, you need to know the class (or classes) of contaminants that are present in your home. Have your home’s indoor air quality tested to reveal if particles, mold and bacteria, and/or odors and chemicals are causing problems. This will give you information that you can use to select a system’s air-purification technology.

Consider these criteria to judge whether a system is right for you:

• Particle removal. A variety of technologies are available. Some systems simply trap particles in a filter; others use ionization so that particles are “stuck” to a plate in the system (although these particles can be later released back into the home). Systems that use a HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter are often the best choice, because they permanently trap particles. However, since HEPA filters are restrictive on airflow, they must be used in conjunction with other less restrictive devices. Only a portion of the home’s air can be filtered by the HEPA device in one pass so several passes will be required to sufficiently scrub 100% of the air.
• Efficiency over time. When judging a system’s efficiency, most systems are tested during their initial 30 minutes of operation. However, you need to know how well your system will work in the long term. Look for reports that evaluate long-term efficiency and affects on airflow.
• Particle filtration. If you’ve had testing done, you know what contaminants – and their sizes – your system needs to be able to remove from the air. Particle size is measured in microns, and the best systems will remove particles as small as 0.003 microns.
• Other filtration. If your testing revealed that your home’s indoor air quality has all three classes of contaminants (particles; mold and bacteria; odors and chemicals), you’ll need a system that addresses more than just particles. Look for a system that combines several technologies and maintains efficiency.

You can improve indoor air quality by using these criteria to make your air-purification system selection. For help, contact San Antonio’s HVAC experts at Jon Wayne Heating & Air Conditioning.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about air purifiers and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Jon Wayne Heating and Air Conditioning services  San Antonio and the surrounding communities of Seguin, New Braunfels, Bulverde, Boerne, and Comal County. Visit our website to see our special offers to get started today!

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• Know the common culprits. Two general classes of contaminants — particulates and gases — cause indoor air quality problems. Examples of common particulates are dust mites, mold, pollen and pet dander. Gases include carbon monoxide and organic chemicals from building materials or carpet. And these pollutants are of varying microscopic sizes.
• Test your air. The best way to identify what’s lurking in the air in your home is through professional testing. Air-quality testing devices can measure the contaminants in the air and provide specific, detailed information about common problematic sources.
• Choose an air-cleaning plan. Once testing reveals sources of pollution, you can really begin to attack the source through air-cleaning technology. There is a variety of technologies that effectively target and eliminate contaminants. If mold is causing problems, you can implement an ultraviolet light air-purifying system. Combined with your HVAC equipment, air purifiers clean the home’s air when it’s generally on the way out of the system, or upstream. Alternatively, there are products that can attack multiple classes of contaminants, ideal for people whose health problems are triggered by a variety of pollutants. Whole-house air-purification systems can remove bacteria, mold, dust and more from indoor air. Other options include electronic air cleaners, HEPA filtration systems and extended life filters.

To get expert advice, contact Jon Wayne Heating & Air Conditioning. We carry a wide variety of air-filtration systems, air purifiers and filters. We also have more than 30 years of experience servicing San Antonio-area homes and providing top-of-the-line indoor air-quality products for area residents.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about indoor air quality and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Jon Wayne Heating and Air Conditioning services  San Antonio and the surrounding communities of Seguin, New Braunfels, Bulverde, Boerne, and Comal County.  Visit our website to see our special offers to get started today!

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Several indoor pollutants trigger problems even in healthy people, but are more damaging for those with respiratory issues, like asthma. There are two categories of pollutants that can lurk in closed-up homes: particulates, such as dust and mold, and gases, such as paint fumes.

• Removing pollutants at their source is one of the most efficient and least-costly methods to improve indoor air quality. If you’re remodeling your home, doing painting jobs outside or with enough air circulation to release fumes outdoors targets the source. Taking care of any moisture problems quickly and cleaning up mold thoroughly when there is a problem removes the source.
• Ventilation helps to move fresh air in and stale air out. A Whole House Dehumidifier can be set up to draw in fresh outside air into the home, while removing moisture from the air. One benefit here is a Whole House Dehumifier can help keep the indoor humidity at levels at which dust mites can not survive. In addition, when indoor humidity is consistantly kept at the 50% range, users find that they can run their AC thermostat setting up to 5 degrees higher and still be comfortable.
• Air cleaners can help to target specific classes of contaminants. UV Light systems target mold and bacteria. Air Purification Systems do more than filter the air – they purify it, often through the use of several air-cleaning technologies.

For improved indoor air quality this summer, use source control, ventilation and air cleaners. Contact the experts at Jon Wayne Heating & Air Conditioning for a consultation. Our indoor air quality technicians can help you target the right pollutants and get you on your way to cleaner air.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about indoor air quality and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Jon Wayne Heating and Air Conditioning services  San Antonio and the surrounding communities of Seguin, New Braunfels, Bulverde, Boerne, and Comal County.  Visit our website to see our special offers to get started today!

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

Whole-house electronic/media hybrid air cleaners work with your HVAC system to remove pollutants from your indoor air. They can be installed in your system in the place of conventional disposable filters. Compared with these standard filters, electronic/media hybrids perform up to 10 times better.

These hybrid air filters work by connecting to your HVAC system’s electric power, which creates an electrostatic field over the filter. When particles enter the air cleaner, they are trapped by the electrostatic charge of the media – and they are killed. The filter can typically trap and kill from 94 percent to 99 percent of hazards, including:

• Pollen
• Pet dander
• Mold spores
• Bacteria
• Tobacco smoke-size and virus-size particles
• Allergens
• Dust
• Dust mites

Whole-house hybrid air cleaners also offer convenience that goes above and beyond standard filters:

• Their filters don’t need to be replaced as often as standard filters.
• The filter’s easily washable cell only requires cleaning about every six to 12 months.

Whole-house filters offer another convenience, too: Working through your HVAC system and ducts, they work continually the improve the air throughout your home. Portable units, on the other hand, only serve a single space and are turned on and off manually.

Along with improving your indoor air quality, electronic/media hybrid air cleaners protect your HVAC equipment by helping to keep it clean. The primary reason HVAC equipment fails is neglected maintenance, which allows dirt, dust and contaminants to build up in system components, reducing performance and your comfort. Keeping it clean is the first step toward preserving your equipment — even lengthening its life span.

If you’re considering installing a hybrid air cleaner in your home, please feel free to contact the professionals at Jon Wayne Heating & Air Conditioning with questions. We’re proud to help improve the air in San Antonio homes.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about electronic air cleaners and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Jon Wayne Heating and Air Conditioning services  San Antonio and the surrounding communities of Seguin, New Braunfels, Bulverde, Boerne, and Comal County. To get started, check out our website or see our current promotions.