Is An Air Cleaner Installed In Your Home? Be Sure To Maintain It

The air inside your home can be much more polluted than the air outside. Dust, pollen, smoke and other unwanted particles can accumulate in your home’s air and cause problems if you have allergies or asthma. We’ve blogged already about some steps you can take to improve the air quality in your home. Another strategy to fight indoor air pollution is to install an air cleaner. There are two main kinds of air cleaners: self-contained units that are used in one room only, and whole-house systems, which are installed as part of your central forced-air system.

You know that most household appliances need regular maintenance; furnaces, for example, need to have their air filters replaced regularly. Likewise, air cleaners need to be maintained so they can clean the air as efficiently as possible. Here are some tips for taking care of your air cleaner.

Clean the collector plates or filters. A popular type of electronic air cleaner uses collector plates to trap pollutants, and in a short amount of time they lose their effectivness as dirt and the like “cling” to the collector plate. Dirty air cleaners can make your unit clean less efficiently and use too much power. Generally, collector plates or filters can be hand-washed and air-dried. Consult your manual for instructions for your particular model.

Check for accumulated dust. Dust can build up in places other than the collector plates. Look over your unit once a month for excessive dirt build up. Dust and dirt can usually be cleaned from an air cleaner with a vacuum or mild soap and warm water. Be sure to cosult with your air cleaners manual for the preferred method or call your professionals at Overland Park Heating and Cooling, Inc.

If you have further questions about air cleaners, or about any heating and cooling topics, please contact us at Overland Park Heating & Cooling, Inc. We’ve been serving homeowners in the greater Kansas City area since 1983.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Overland Park, Kansas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). 

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