If you’re shopping for an air purifier, you might be noticing that some kinds are producing lots of claims. And many of those claims could appear too good to be true. So, it’s only typical that you may be thinking are air purifiers a waste of money.
They’re useful, according to the EPA, as they’re a great way to improve your Hodgenville home’s indoor air quality. Newer houses are tightly sealed and thoroughly insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so fantastic for indoor air quality.
As updated residences don’t naturally let in as much fresh air as older homes, pollutants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can accumulate inside. The consequence? Air that’s more contaminated than the outdoors, which is bad news if you struggle with allergies, asthma or are sensitive to respiratory irritation.
Our indoor air quality pros at Phelps Heating & Cooling can help you cut through the clutter and find the best home air purifier. Just give us a call at 270-358-3167 and we’ll be happy to provide support. In the meantime, discover more about how air purifiers clean the air, their perks and our suggestions to help you choose the best air purifier.
How Do Air Purifiers Work?
Most home air purifiers have a fan to collect air. Then, the air moves through one or more filters to trap pollutants before being redistributed.
These filters can include 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 microscopic 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 area. Or they can be added to your HVAC system, giving powerful filtration for your complete house.
The EPA says you should be aware that air purifiers can’t get rid of 100% of the contaminants from your residence’s air. But when used along with a better filter for your HVAC system, they can greatly reduce the concentration of indoor air pollution.
4 Advantages of an Air Purifier
Adding an air purifier to your home can deliver many good health perks. Here are just a few of them.
1. Lowers Allergy and Asthma Triggers
Air purifiers lower pollutants 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. Reduces Other Symptoms Associated with Poor Indoor Air Quality
Even if you or someone in your residence doesn’t have allergies or asthma, an air purifier can reduce other issues related to low indoor air quality. These include:
- Itchy throat, eyes, nose or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be hard to identify symptoms related to indoor air quality, since they can be linked to many other illnesses. However, if you’re noticing that symptoms lessen after you leave home, your indoor air quality is likely causing a problem.
3. Gets Rid of Odors
Odors that hang around, including cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tough to get rid of. If you struggle with getting rid of heavy smells in your home, we recommend getting an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.
4. Can Decrease Your Likelihood of Being Sick
An air purifier can remove some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your loved ones in better health particularly during colder months. To take total advantage of this benefit, our professionals recommend 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 select air purifiers. Here are a few options to skip when picking a system for your house:
- Creates ozone. Some air purifiers make ozone, which can bother your lungs. The EPA advises avoiding ozone air purifiers.
- Doesn’t use HEPA filters. For the best outcome, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Regarded as the gold standard for clean air, HEPA filters are used in most healthcare settings, including hospitals.
- Only purifies a single room. We advise using a whole-house air purifier, which purifies the air throughout your home. This solution works with your home comfort system.
When you call the indoor air quality professionals at Phelps Heating & Cooling, we make it simple to choose the best air purifier for your home. Give us a call at 270-358-3167 to get started breathing cleaner air right away!