Will Air Purifcation systems kill viruses?

With talk of coronavirus blanketing the airwaves and so many companies claiming to have special filters and air purifiers that can kill the virus, it’s no wonder we’ve received so many calls and emails from customers looking to protect their families and employees from this new illness, so we wanted to pass along some information to help you separate the signal from the noise.

Let’s start with the basics, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), coronavirus (COVID-19) spreads mainly through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It’s possible to get COVID-19 by touching a surface that has the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose or eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.

Noting that airborne particles play a significant role in the spread of the disease, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) has released proactive guidance that addresses COVID-19 concerns with respect to the operation and maintenance of HVAC systems.

You should know that viruses, like COVID-19, are much smaller than bacteria (roughly 100 times smaller) and other pollutants like pollen and pet dander which are the primary culprits when it comes to poor indoor air quality. This means that a standard HEPA filter will not remove viruses from the air.

Unlike air filters, some air purifiers can capture viruses, but they won’t destroy them so the virus will remain alive inside the filter for as long as the virus survives which could be as long as 9 days. High quality air filters also tend to come with a hefty price tag, so you should take that into account when determining the best option for your home or business.

Sean McCutcheon’s Air Conditioning and Heating offers a variety of indoor air quality products including the HALO-LED™ whole-home in-duct air purification system. We also offer Bryant Ultraviolet Germicidal Lights which destroy viruses and bacteria without chemicals. Both the HALO-LED and the Bryant Ultraviolet Germicidal Lights are installed in the HVAC unit and they disinfect the air as it circulates through the ventilation system.

We can’t guarantee that using an air purifier will kill Covid-19, we only know they do well against similar type organisms. Every house and person’s application are a little different, so it pays to do a little research. We can tailor fit a system to your residence if you’re interested in more high-end filtration or taking advantage of some of these indoor purification systems. We’d be happy to discuss it with you, or even send you information, we are just not actively promoting these systems for use against Covid-19.

Call (941) 921-7208 to discuss your air purification options with one of our NATE certified technicians.

In the meantime, the CDC recommends you clean your hands often, avoid close contract with people who are sick, cover coughs and sneezes, stay home or wear a facemask if you are sick, and clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. Click here for specifics on each of these recommendations (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/prevention.html).