If you’re in the market for an air purifier, you may be realizing that some manufacturers are making many claims. And some of those claims may feel too good to be true. So, it’s only natural that you might be wondering are air purifiers a waste of money.
They’re worthwhile, according to the EPA, as they’re an excellent way to better your Alliance residence’s indoor air quality. Today’s residences are securely sealed and thoroughly insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so fantastic for indoor air quality.
Because newer houses don’t normally allow in as much fresh air as old residences, contaminants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can accumulate in your home. The consequence? Air that’s dirtier than the outdoors, which is not good if you are dealing with allergies, asthma or are susceptible to respiratory irritation.
Our indoor air quality pros at Jack's Heating, Cooling, Stoves & Fireplaces can help you cut through the clutter and select the best home air purifier. Just contact us at 308-762-1613 and we’ll be happy to help. Meanwhile, find out more about how air purifiers clean the air, their pluses and our advice to help you find the right air purifier.
How Do Air Purifiers Improve Indoor Air Quality?
Most home air purifiers have a fan to draw in air. Then, the air moves through one or more filters to catch contaminants before being redistributed.
These filters can have a charcoal filter, to get rid of odors, and a HEPA, or high efficiency particulate air, filter. A HEPA filter is at least 99.7% effective at capturing tiny particles as little as .3 microns, like dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.
An air purifier can be lightweight and used to treat a single space. Or they can be fitted to your HVAC system, giving effective filtration for your complete home.
The EPA says you should be aware that air purifiers can’t remove 100% of the contaminants from your home’s air. But when used along with an enhanced filter for your HVAC system, they can significantly decrease the amount of indoor air pollution.
4 Benefits of Air Purification
Adding an air purifier to your home can deliver lots of great health perks. Here are just a couple of them.
1. Reduces Allergy and Asthma Triggers
Air purifiers reduce irritants in your residence, like some of these typical triggers:
- Dust
- Pollen
- Mold
- Volatile organic compounds, including cleaners, air fresheners and personal care products
2. Lowers Other Symptoms Linked to Poor Indoor Air Quality
Even if you or someone in your home doesn’t struggle with allergies or asthma, an air purifier can lower other issues associated with poor indoor air quality. These entail:
- Scratchy throat, eyes, nose or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be tricky to identify troubles linked to indoor air quality, because they can be caused by many other illnesses. However, if you’re aware that you feel better after you leave your residence, your indoor air quality is probably causing the issue.
3. Gets Rid of Odors
Persistent odors, such as cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tricky to get rid of. If you having issues with eliminating strong smells in your house, our pros advise buying an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.
4. Might Reduce Your Chance of Getting Sick
An air purifier can eliminate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your family healthier even more so during cold months. To take total advantage of this benefit, our pros advise a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light delivers an additional layer of safeguard against airborne pathogens.
Air Purification Systems to Skip
You’re better off without select air purifiers. Here are several features to stay away from when choosing a system for your house:
- Makes ozone. Some air purifiers create ozone, which can aggravate your lungs. The EPA advises skipping ozone air purifiers.
- Doesn’t have HEPA filters. For the best filtration, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Known as the gold standard for clean air, HEPA filters are used in many healthcare settings, like hospitals.
- Only purifies a single room. We advise getting a whole-house air purifier, which filters the air throughout your home. This solution operates with your home comfort system.
When you partner with the indoor air quality professionals at Jack's Heating, Cooling, Stoves & Fireplaces, we make it simple to choose the best air purifier for your home. Reach us at 308-762-1613 to begin breathing healthier air now!