What’s the Difference Between an iWave and an Air Scrubber?

Given our current situation, Americans are spending more time indoors; nearly 90% percent. As we transition to more time inside, one question we always hear is how can we improve our indoor air? While we would like to give an easy answer, the solution isn’t so simple. At Bell Brothers, we carry two important tools for the preservation of indoor air: the iWave and the Air Scrubber. Though both devices have the same goal—to keep the air you breathe safe, pure, and healthy—they have different ways of getting there. That’s why we’re answering the question, what’s the difference between an iWave and an Air Scrubber?

What is an iWave?

An iWave is an air purifier that is an add-on to your existing HVAC system. It can be installed into any system that uses ducts for air transfer. Unfortunately, an iWave is incompatible with any system that does not rely on ducting—for example, it would not work with a mini-split AC system. Traditionally, the iWave is installed directly into your system, between the evaporator coil and air filter. Once installed, the iWave is activated when your HVAC system’s blower turns on. When the iWave is activated, it uses ions to neutralize indoor air contaminates and essentially cleaning any air circulating through your home.

How does Ionization Work?

This section is for all the science lovers. The iWave uses ions to neutralize indoor air contaminates. First, an ion is an electrically charged particle “that form when atoms lose or gain electrons in the air space.” The ions produced by the iWave are negative ions. These negative ions attach themselves to indoor air contaminates; some contaminates include viral and bacterial molecules, mold, and allergens. Once the negative ions attach themselves to unwanted particles it forces the particles to clump together, making the particles too heavy to float. This essentially forces the contaminated particles to fall out of the air, meaning they never make it into your home. The negative ions created by the iWave are naturally occurring and can be found in sunlight, ocean waves, waterfalls, and lightning. Instead of producing negative ions at a natural level, the iWave generates a large concentration of negative ions through high voltage. This large concentration of negative ions is what purifies your indoor air.

What is an Air Scrubber?

An Air Scrubber is very similar to an iWave in that it uses technology to purify your home air. The biggest difference is that the iWave uses ionic technology and the Air Scrubber uses UV lights. Similar to the iWave, an Air Scrubber is installed directly in your HVAC system, right after the air filter. Once treated air is initially cleaned by the air filter, it goes through the Air Scrubber where the air gets a second cleaning. The Air Scrubber is also great at eliminating obnoxious odors like pet smells and lingering cooking aromas.

How do UV Lights Work?

Have you ever experienced a sun burn? The same UV wavelengths that caused your sunburn can also purify the air! The biggest difference between UV wavelengths that occur in nature and the UV lights in your HVAC system is the level of concentration. Air Scrubbers—and other HVAC technology that utilizes UV lights—often produce UV rays at a much higher concentration than anything you would find in nature. If one of our techs were to stand too close to an exposed UV light for only a few minutes, it could cause a sunburn. As we mentioned above, the Air Scrubber is usually placed in an HVAC system right after the air filter. Once treated air passes through the air filter, it is exposed to a high concentration of UV rays. These rays essentially “scrub” the air. Eliminating up to 90% of airborne pathogens, including: E. Coli, Listeria, Staph, Strep, Hep A, Swine Flu, Bird Flu, and MRSA.

Now You Know the Difference Between an iWave and an Air Scrubber, Would One Work in Your Home?

We understand how important it is to choose the best air purification system for your home. At Bell Brothers, we don’t believe in a one size fits all solution! Every home has unique and individual needs and our technicians are trained to find the best solution for your home. If you want to schedule a visit from one of our HVAC techs, call the number at the top of the screen.