Allergens hitch a ride directly into your home on your clothes, your pets and anything else that comes through the door. Even if you stop most of the allergens at the door — by asking family members and friends to remove their shoes, for example — it’s still a good idea to have a purification system in place.An air purification system can remove a significant amount of unwanted particles from the air in your home. And that includes the contaminants that didn’t come in from the outside.

Forced-air systems have filters designed to capture particulate matter. Their effectiveness depends largely on their quality. Quality filters, such as those with high MERV ratings, are better at catching particulate matter than those at the low end of the MERV scale.

Unfortunately, the filter on your HVAC system can’t remove 100 percent of the contaminants in your air. A whole-house air purification system can do a much better job. An air purifier can remove particles down to 0.01 microns in size. It uses three components to do this: a pleated media, ultraviolet lights and a catalyst.

This type of air purification system attaches directly to your HVAC unit. When air is drawn in, it runs through a pleated filter designed to remove particulate matter, including dust mites and pollen. Next, the air passes through the UV lights, which destroy bacteria and mold. Then the air is pushed through the catalyst, which neutralizes odors and chemical vapors.

Some systems can remove as much as 50 percent of all particulate matter in your air in 24 hours. As the air in your home passes through the system again and again, it gets cleaner and cleaner.

Remove a significant amount of particulate matter from your home, and there’s bound to be less allergy-related coughing and sneezing. And because you have UV lights in your system, your family may experience fewer colds.

For more expert advice about air-purification and other issues related to home comfort, contact Rheem Pro Partner. We serve homeowners in norther Colorado.