How Much Does a Whole House Air Purifier Cost in Tampa?

Thinking about adding an air purifier to your HVAC system?

The price will vary based on the following factors:

1. The Type of Purifier You Choose
2. Installation Considerations

Let’s go into more detail about each of these points…

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Cost Factor #1: The Type of Purifier You Choose

You can buy several different types of whole-house air purifiers, but the most common here in Tampa are:

1. Electrostatic Precipitation Air Purifiers
2. Gas-Phase Air Purifiers
3. UV Light Air Purifiers

We’ll go into more detail about each of these air cleaners, how much they cost, and what they can do for your home’s air quality.

Electrostatic Precipitation Air Purifiers (ESP)

How they work: Electronic air purifiers are installed in the return side of your HVAC system and use a high-voltage current that adds an electrical charge to particles that pass through the filter.

After the air particles receive an electrical charge, they’re drawn to an aluminum collector plate that has an opposite charge. This way, the particles remain on the plate and do not enter your home’s airstream.

Advantages:

• Can remove a wide range of particle sizes (ranging from small to large).
• Low maintenance (only require cleaning the collector plate periodically).

Drawbacks:

• Some ESP purifiers generate ozone and nitrogen oxide, which can irritate the lungs and throat of people with asthma.
• Some ESP purifiers require a lot of electricity.

Gas-Phase Air Purifiers (Activated Carbon)

How they work: Gas-phase air purifiers most often use activated carbon to adsorb gaseous particles in the air.

Gas-phase cleaners can remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs), odors (like cigarette smoke), and other various gaseous pollutants. Think of activated carbon as a sponge that draws in these gases and holds them so they don’t enter your home’s air.

Advantages:

• Can potentially remove a large amount of particles from gasses.
• Doesn’t produce any negative byproducts.

Drawbacks:

• Requires regular replacement (once adsorption capacity is exhausted).
• Effectiveness can change based on temperature and relative humidity.
• Some gas-phase purifiers may require you to modify your ductwork/system to accommodate the unit.

UV Light Air Purifiers (Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation, or UVGI)

How they work: UVGI purifiers use ultraviolet light to kill pollutants like viruses, bacteria, mold spores, and more. These purifiers are typically installed near the evaporator coil in the indoor unit of your AC system.

When air passes over the evaporator coil to be cooled, the UV light kills bacteria and mold spores present in the air, which reduces the chances of mold growing on your AC.

Advantages:

• Can be effective if pollutants are exposed to the UV light long enough.
• Can prevent mold and bacteria growth on cooling coils (which is important in humid climates like Florida).

Drawbacks:

• Some models with uncoated lamps can generate ozone.
• Some models use a lot of electricity.

“Which Type of Whole-House Air Purifier Should I Choose?”

Since whole home air purifiers depend on your home’s HVAC system and ductwork, a professional will need to help you  choose one that best fits your system and your family’s air quality needs.

Cost Factor #2: Installation Considerations

In addition to the type of whole home air purifier you choose, you’ll also want to consider the following 2 factors:

#1: The Difficulty of the Installation

Difficult installations require more labor and effort, which will raise the total cost of the project.

Examples of installation difficulties include:

• Accessing your HVAC system if it’s located in a hard-to-reach area (like a small attic, tight closet, or crawl space).
• Having to make extensive modifications to the ductwork in order to accommodate the whole home air purifier.
• Upgrading HVAC equipment to support any changes in pressure caused by the new whole home air purifier.

#2: The Contractor You Hire

The contractor you hire to install your whole home air purifier also affects the total cost of what you’ll pay for the project.

Some contractors charge more for their services, but those that do usually deliver high-quality installations. And when it comes to installing a whole home air purifier, you want high-quality work so that your purifier will properly remove pollutants from the air.

To determine if a contractor does quality work, follow this checklist before you hire them:

• Confirm they’re licensed and insured.
• Verify they provide good customer service by reading their online reviews.
• Make sure they offer upfront price estimates in writing, and that they offer guarantees on their work.

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