What this covers
Whole-home air purification cleans the air as it moves through the heating and cooling system. The most common form is a media air cleaner: a cabinet installed beside the furnace or air handler that holds a thick pleated filter with far more surface than a standard one-inch filter. Other options include electronic air cleaners and ultraviolet lights mounted in the ductwork. The technician checks that the system can move enough air through the new filter, installs the cabinet so it is sealed to the ducts and nothing bypasses it, and sets a filter schedule. After smoke or a renovation, filtration is often paired with duct cleaning.
When to call
- Dust that returns quickly after cleaning.
- A household with allergies or sensitivity to dust and pollen.
- Smoke odor or fine dust after a fire, wildfire smoke or a renovation.
- A thin filter that clogs fast or a filter slot that leaks air around the edges.
What to expect
- AssessThe system, its airflow and the filter slot are checked to choose a cleaner that fits.
- InstallThe cabinet or device is mounted and sealed into the return or supply ductwork.
- TestAirflow is checked so the new filter does not starve the furnace or air conditioner.
- MaintainYou are shown the filter schedule and how to change the filter.
Get a certified company
Look up a certified company by ZIP code. Every company's license, insurance and trades are verified before it is listed, and placement is never paid.
Questions people ask
Is a thicker filter always better?
Only if the system can move air through it. A media cabinet spreads the air over a large pleated filter, so it can catch fine particles without choking the blower the way a dense thin filter can.
How often are the filters changed?
Media filters last longer than standard ones, often several months, but the right interval depends on the house, pets and season. The installer sets a schedule and shows you how to check it.
Does it help after smoke damage?
Filtration captures fine particles that keep circulating, but soot in the ducts and on surfaces has to be cleaned. After a fire it is one part of the cleanup, alongside duct cleaning and smoke damage cleaning.
Related: Air duct cleaning · Whole-home dehumidifiers · Smoke damage cleanup · All heating, cooling and air quality
This page describes what the service involves. The company you hire sets the scope, the schedule and the price, and your contract is with that company. We verify credentials and collect reviews from real jobs. We do not guarantee any company's workmanship. Safety steps are general guidance. When in doubt, leave the home and call 911.