Air Scrubber vs. Air Purifier: How Are They Different?

Mom holding her two children in a comfortably air conditioned home

What is an air purifier? And what on Earth is an air scrubber? These terms might sound similar, but the truth is that they are two different pieces of equipment.

It is important to have a clean and safe environment in which you can live, and both items can improve your Atlanta HVAC system. In this article, we will explore the differences between an air scrubber vs. an air purifier so that you can decide which one might be right for your needs. Let's get started!

What Is an Air Purifier?

Air purifiers are machines that can be attached to your HVAC system or stand-alone. They treat the air in your home or business by using at least one type of filtration to pull pollutants out of the air.

What an air purifier can do depends on the types of filters it uses. For example, HEPA filtration can eliminate 99.9% of all particles in the air, including those as small as 0.3 microns. The goal of a purifier is to create an indoor area where it is safe to breathe.

What Does an Air Scrubber Do?

Air scrubbers are pretty similar to purifiers. They can also use HEPA filtration, but they take things several steps further, eliminating not just dust and debris, but even viruses and bacteria.

As such, what an air scrubber is typically used for is sanitization in high-risk areas, such as hospitals and other healthcare settings. If you've ever asked yourself if air purifiers can prevent colds and the flu, the answer is not usually, but an air scrubber can greatly reduce the risk of contracting all manner of illnesses.

Should You Go With a Purifier or Scrubber?

Since the pandemic began, many people have been interested in home air scrubbers. While they can give you an extra sense of security, for most people, they really aren't necessary. Unless you have a medical condition requiring you to breathe the cleanest air possible, a normal HEPA air filter will serve you well.

If you're looking for an HVAC service in Atlanta, we would love to talk to you. Our service technicians are experts in air purification and can give you the best advice on how to maintain a healthy indoor environment that will keep everyone happy and productive all year long.

We hope this blog post has been helpful! For questions about heating and air in Roswell, give us a call.