If you’re looking for an air purifier, you could be realizing that some manufacturers are spouting many claims. And most of those claims might feel too good to be true. So, it’s only natural that you could be wondering are air purifiers a waste of money.

They’re useful, according to the EPA, since they’re a fantastic approach to improve your Hodgenville residence’s indoor air quality. Today’s homes are securely sealed and thoroughly insulated, which is fantastic for energy efficiency, but not so fantastic for indoor air quality.

Since newer houses don’t normally let in as much outdoor air as aging residences, contaminants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can accumulate indoors. The consequence? Air that’s more contaminated than the outdoors, which is bad news if you have allergies, asthma or are susceptible to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality pros at Phelps Heating & Cooling, Inc. can help you cut through the clutter and choose the best home air purifier. Just call us at 270-358-3167 and we’ll be happy to provide support. In the meantime, find out more about how air purifiers operate, their advantages and our recommendations to help you choose the best air purifier.

How Do Air Purifiers Work?

Most home air purifiers rely on a fan to pull in air. Then, the air passes through one or more filters to catch irritants before being redistributed.

These filters might incorporate 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 capturing miniscule particles as little as .3 microns, such as dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be compact and used to filter an individual area. Or they can be installed inside your HVAC system, delivering strong filtration for your complete residence.

The EPA says it’s important to know that air purifiers can’t get rid of every contaminant from your home’s air. But when used in combination with an improved filter for your HVAC system, they can greatly reduce the amount of indoor air pollution.

4 Benefits of an Air Purifier

Getting an air purifier for your residence can offer lots of great health pluses. Here are just a couple of them.

1. Decreases Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers decrease pollutants in your home, including some of these typical triggers:

  • Dust
  • Pollen
  • Mold
  • Volatile organic compounds, including cleaners, air fresheners and personal care products

2. Reduces Other Issues Associated with Poor Indoor Air Quality

Even if you or someone in your household doesn’t experience allergies or asthma, an air purifier can alleviate other troubles related to bad 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 linked to indoor air quality, because they can be caused by many other illnesses. However, if you’re aware that symptoms are better after you leave your residence, your indoor air quality is possibly causing trouble.

3. Gets Rid of Odors

Persistent odors, such as cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tricky to get rid of. If you are having a hard time with removing heavy smells in your house, our pros recommend buying an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. Might Decrease Your Likelihood of Becoming Sick

An air purifier can remove some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your household in better health particularly during cold months. To get complete advantage of this plus, our professionals recommend a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light provides an added layer of defense against airborne pathogens.

Air Purifiers to Skip

You’re better off without some air purifiers. Here are several options to avoid when picking a system for your residence:

  • Makes ozone. Some air purifiers produce ozone, which can aggravate your lungs. The EPA advises avoiding ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t use HEPA filters. For the best filtration, 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 style runs in tandem with your HVAC system.

When you partner with the indoor air quality professionals at Phelps Heating & Cooling, Inc., we make it easy to choose the best air purifier for your house. Reach us at 270-358-3167 to get started breathing healthier air now!