If you’re shopping for an air purifier, you may be finding that some manufacturers are spouting lots of claims. And many of those claims might appear too good to be true. So, it’s only typical that you might be wondering are air purifiers a waste of money.
They’re worth it, according to the EPA, because they’re an excellent method to enhance your South Beloit and Belvidere house’s indoor air quality. Newer residences are solidly sealed and thoroughly insulated, which is fantastic for energy efficiency, but not so good for indoor air quality.
Since modern houses don’t normally allow in as much outside air as aging homes, contaminants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can concentrate in your home. The consequence? Air that’s more polluted than the outdoors, which is a problem if you are dealing with allergies, asthma or are sensitive to respiratory irritation.
Our indoor air quality specialists at Fleming Heating & Air Conditioning Inc can help you cut through the clutter and find the best home air purifier. Just call us at 877-389-2465 and we’ll be happy to provide support. Meanwhile, find out more about how air purifiers work, their benefits and our recommendations to help you select the right air purifier.
How Do Air Purifiers Work?
Most home air purifiers rely on a fan to collect air. Then, the air passes through one or more filters to collect irritants before being recirculated.
These filters might include 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 microscopic particles as small as .3 microns, including dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.
An air purifier can be compact and used to treat a single area. Or they can be installed inside your HVAC system, delivering strong filtration for your complete home.
The EPA says it’s important to know that air purifiers can’t remove all the contaminants from your house’s air. But when used along with an enhanced filter for your HVAC system, they can considerably decrease the concentration of indoor air pollution.
4 Advantages of an Air Purifier
Getting an air purifier for your home can provide a lot of great health perks. Here are just a few of them.
1. Decreases Allergy and Asthma Triggers
Air purifiers decrease contaminants in your home, like some of these common triggers:
- Dust
- Pollen
- Mold
- Volatile organic compounds, like cleaners, air fresheners and personal care products
2. Lowers Other Symptoms Associated with Poor Indoor Air Quality
Even if you or someone in your home doesn’t struggle with allergies or asthma, an air purifier can decrease other issues linked to bad indoor air quality. These include:
- Scratchy throat, eyes, nose or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be difficult to identify troubles related to indoor air quality, because they can be caused by many other illnesses. However, if you’re noticing that symptoms are better after you leave home, your indoor air quality is likely causing a problem.
3. Removes Odors
Odors that hang around, including cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be difficult to remove. If you having issues with getting rid of persistent smells in your house, we suggest getting an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.
4. Can Decrease Your Probability of Being Sick
An air purifier can remove some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your household in good health particularly during winter months. To take complete advantage of this plus, our pros recommend a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light provides an added layer of protection against airborne pathogens.
Air Purifiers to Avoid
You’re better off without certain air purifiers. Here are a few options to avoid when selecting a system for your house:
- Creates ozone. Some air purifiers make ozone, which can bother your lungs. The EPA recommends staying away from ozone air purifiers.
- Doesn’t include HEPA filters. For the best filtration, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Considered the gold standard for pure air, HEPA filters are used in most healthcare settings, including hospitals.
- Only purifies a single room. We suggest using a whole-house air purifier, which purifies the air in every room. This solution works alongside your home comfort system.
When you partner with the indoor air quality experts at Fleming Heating & Air Conditioning Inc, we make it uncomplicated to choose the best air purifier for your residence. Give us a call at 877-389-2465 to start breathing cleaner air today!