Air Cleaners vs. Air Purifiers: Which Is the Winner for You?

If Superman and Spiderman got into a fight, who would win? It’s an interesting question, but there’s no right answer, of course, because each is a force for good with different superpowers. The same can be said when comparing air cleaners to air purifiers. Purifiers target toxic particles including viruses and bacteria in the air and on hard surfaces, while air cleaners filter dust particles and other allergens from the air in your home.

Choosing the right whole-home air purifier or air cleaner for your home or business starts with identifying the problem you hope to address.

Air Cleaners

The primary purpose of air cleaners is to capture particles like dust, smoke, pollen and pet dander and remove them from circulation. Presto, your allergies are relieved!

Home air cleaners use filters that collect dust and other particles that pass through. Air cleaners do not sanitize hard surfaces in the home. Home air cleaners that use ionized filters are more efficient at reducing particles in the air than those with standard filters, and most air cleaning models are compatible with gas, oil, and electric forced-air furnaces and air-conditioning systems. An advantage of an air cleaner is that it removes dust from the air before it reaches the indoor furnace or air handler, and thereby reduces the maintenance of the HVAC unit itself. Air purifiers don’t serve that purpose. Ask us about the products we carry, such as Honeywell air cleaners and American Standard AccuClean.

Air Purifiers

For home and business owners primarily concerned with reducing pathogens including the virus that causes COVID-19, an air purifier is the ticket to a healthier environment.

Air purifiers come in two categories: active and passive. Passive purifiers work by pulling air through a filter, which removes airborne pathogens and odor-causing molecules. By contrast, active air purifiers produce and emit ions that go out through the supply air system, travel through the air and to surfaces throughout the house where they deactivate pathogens including bacteria and viruses and neutralize odor-causing molecules.

In addition to removing pathogens from the air and hard surfaces, active purifiers also help reduce allergens like dander in the air, using a different mechanism than air cleaners. The ions released by this type of air purifier cause particles suspended in the air to bond together and become too heavy to remain airborne. Rather than floating around and wreaking havoc on allergy sufferers, the bonded particles fall to the floor, where they can be vacuumed, swept or mopped away.

Fitch Services carries multiple models of air purifiers including the iWave purifier and the AirScrubber Plus. Keep reading to learn more.

The iWave

The iWave installs directly into your HVAC system, where it produces ions that help reduce viruses, bacteria and other airborne particles. According to the company’s performance data, tests demonstrate that iWave can help reduce SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

Air Scrubber Plus

Like the iWave, the Air Scrubber Plus by Aerus also installs directly into your HVAC unit. It uses the patented ActivePure surface and air purification technology that creates and propels molecules into the air. According to data on the company’s website, the Air Scrubber reduces surface contaminants by 80 percent in two hours and by 99 percent in 24 hours. The company recently released new test results stating that its ActivePure technology eliminates 99.9 percent of airborne COVID-19 in under 60 seconds.

What’s the Best Choice For You?

As you compare air cleaners and air purifiers to improve the air quality in your home or business, keep the following in mind:

• Air cleaners filter allergens from the air and can reduce the cost of HVAC maintenance by protecting the unit.
• Air purifiers neutralize pathogens and odors and remove allergens from the air by causing airborne molecules to bond together and fall to the ground.

Charlottesville area residents can call Fitch Services at 434-296-9980 or use our Contact form to schedule an appointment with one of Fitch Services' licensed, bonded, and insured technicians. We can help you to compare air cleaners and air purifiers so that you can make the ideal choice for your home.