A whole-home air purifier is any filter or device that sits in the ductwork and treats all the air the system moves. Several different products get sold under that name, and they are not equally useful.
Whether one is worth it comes down to two things: what is actually in your air, and whether your furnace or air handler can push air through a better filter without straining. For most homes a well-fitted MERV 13 filter gets most of the benefit.
MERV is a 1 to 16 scale for how well a filter catches particles of different sizes. Higher catches smaller particles, but a filter that stops more also resists airflow more, and your blower and ducts were designed around a certain resistance.
Why people call us for air purifiers
- Allergies or asthma
- Wildfire smoke seasons
- Pets
- Dust that never settles
$69 diagnostic, credited toward the work
- Options review
- Installation in the return
- Filter schedule
How an air quality visit goes
The visit starts with the problem: dust, smoke, pets, allergies or smells, because each points at a different fix. Then the system: the blower and the ducts were designed around a certain resistance, and a filter that is too restrictive starves them.
Usually the answer is a media filter cabinet at the return, with add-ons only where they earn their place. You get a written price before anything is ordered.
The cabinet is sealed so air cannot slip around the filter, and airflow is checked afterwards. Our labor carries a one-year warranty on top of the manufacturer's.
We repair, maintain and install these brands. Logos identify the equipment we work on and do not imply endorsement by the manufacturer.
Before you call
Start with a MERV 13 that fits
For most homes a well-fitted MERV 13 filter in a proper cabinet gets most of the benefit. The pricier add-ons earn their place only in specific situations. Read more
What the number means
The rating comes from a test that measures how much of three particle-size ranges a filter captures, from pollen and larger dust down to smoke-sized particles. The right filter is the highest rating your system can pull air through without straining. Read more
Smoke days
Wildfire smoke is mostly very fine particles that get past a cheap filter. A recirculating system with a good filter and the fan running becomes a whole-house filter, and the filter loads up fast on those days. Read more
Fix the leaks first
Filtration does little if a return leak pulls attic dust into the system behind the filter. The ducts get looked at before a filter cabinet is quoted. Read more
The workhorse is a media filter cabinet
A 4- or 5-inch pleated filter in a metal box at the return. More surface area than a 1-inch filter, so it catches more without starving the blower, and it lasts longer between changes. Read more
Works together with
Common questions
For most homes, a well-fitted MERV 13 filter in a proper cabinet gets most of the benefit. The pricier add-ons earn their place only in specific situations. What matters is what is in your air and what your system can pull air through. Read more
It is a 1 to 16 scale for how well a filter catches particles of different sizes. Higher catches smaller particles, but also resists airflow more. The right filter is the highest MERV your system can handle without straining. Read more
Most homes have a recirculating system with no fresh-air intake, which is good news. With a good filter and the fan running it works as a whole-house filter. Wildfire smoke is mostly very fine particles, so a cheap filter lets it through. Read more
People with allergies or asthma often notice the difference with better filtration, because it removes more of the fine particles from the air. It is not a medical treatment and we do not sell it as one.
AirNow.gov shows the outdoor air-quality index for your ZIP code. For what you are actually breathing, a small monitor inside the house shows whether your filtration is doing anything on a bad day. Read more
One year on our labor, plus the manufacturer's warranty on parts and equipment.
“David was great and super helpful, got our AC back and running within an hour! He was also very flexible with my rescheduling which I really appreciated.”
Schedule service
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818-277-5056Licensed #1119892 · Veteran-owned · Pasadena & Reseda