If you’re shopping for an air purifier, you could be noticing that some brands are spouting many claims. And most of those claims might feel too good to be true. So, it’s only expected that you might be questioning are air purifiers a waste of money.
They’re worth it, according to the EPA, since they’re a great way to enhance your Logan house’s indoor air quality. Today’s homes are solidly sealed and thoroughly insulated, which is excellent for energy efficiency, but not so great for indoor air quality.
As newer homes don’t normally let in as much outdoor air as aging residences, contaminants such as dust, pet dander and cleaning products can concentrate indoors. The result? Air that’s more polluted than the outdoors, which is bad news if you struggle with allergies, asthma or are sensitive to respiratory irritation.
Our indoor air quality professionals at Western Mechanical, Inc. can help you cut through the clutter and choose the best home air purifier. Just contact us at 435-753-5515 and we’ll be happy to assist you. In the meantime, find out more about how air purifiers clean the air, their benefits and our recommendations to help you select the best air purifier.
How Do Air Purifiers Work?
Most home air purifiers have a fan to pull in air. Then, the air passes through one or more filters to catch contaminants before being redistributed.
These filters might have a charcoal filter, to eliminate odors, and a HEPA, or high efficiency particulate air, filter. A HEPA filter is at least 99.7% effective at filtering tiny particles down to .3 microns, such as dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.
An air purifier can be movable and used to treat a single area. Or they can be installed inside your HVAC system, delivering powerful filtration for your total house.
The EPA says you should be aware that air purifiers can’t remove 100% of the contaminants from your house’s air. But when used along with an enhanced filter for your HVAC system, they can significantly lower the concentration of indoor air pollution.
4 Pluses of an Air Purifier
Adding an air purifier to your residence can give many outstanding health advantages. Here are several of them.
1. Reduces Allergy and Asthma Triggers
Air purifiers reduce irritants in your residence, such as some of these typical triggers:
- Dust
- Pollen
- Mold
- Volatile organic compounds, such as cleaners, air fresheners and personal care products
2. Alleviates Other Problems Related to Poor Indoor Air Quality
Even if you or someone in your home doesn’t have allergies or asthma, an air purifier can reduce other symptoms related to poor indoor air quality. These involve:
- Scratchy throat, eyes, nose or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be hard to distinguish issues associated with indoor air quality, as they can be linked to many other illnesses. However, if you’re aware that symptoms are better after you leave home, your indoor air quality is likely to blame.
3. Gets Rid of Odors
Lingering odors, including cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be difficult to eliminate. If you having difficulties with eliminating strong smells in your home, we advise getting an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.
4. Can Lower Your Chance of Being Sick
An air purifier can inactivate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your family healthier even more so during cold months. To get full advantage of this benefit, we suggest a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light provides an extra layer of safeguard against airborne pathogens.
Air Purifiers to Avoid
You’re better off without certain air purifiers. Here are several styles to avoid when picking a system for your house:
- Produces ozone. Some air purifiers produce ozone, which can aggravate your lungs. The EPA advises skipping ozone air purifiers.
- Doesn’t have HEPA filters. For the best outcome, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Considered the gold standard for healthy air, HEPA filters are used in the majority of healthcare settings, such as hospitals.
- Only purifies one room. We advise using a whole-house air purifier, which cleans the air across your home. This solution runs alongside your heating and cooling system.
When you call the indoor air quality professionals at Western Mechanical, Inc., we make it uncomplicated to choose the best air purifier for your house. Give us a call at 435-753-5515 to get started breathing healthier air now!