If you’re looking for an air purifier, you may be noticing that some manufacturers are producing lots of claims. And most of those claims may appear too good to be true. So, it’s only natural that you could be questioning are air purifiers a waste of money.
They’re worth it, according to the EPA, because they’re a great way to better your Macon residence’s indoor air quality. Today’s residences are solidly sealed and deeply insulated, which is excellent for energy efficiency, but not so excellent for indoor air quality.
Because newer residences don’t typically allow in as much outside air as old homes, irritants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can build up inside. The consequence? Air that’s dirtier than the outdoors, which is bad news if you struggle with allergies, asthma or are vulnerable to respiratory irritation.
Our indoor air quality professionals at Air Temperature Control can help you cut through the clutter and find the best home air purifier. Just give us a call at 478-202-3170 and we’ll be happy to assist you. For now, learn more about how air purifiers work, their advantages and our advice to help you choose the right air purifier.
How Do Air Purifiers Work?
Most home air purifiers rely on a fan to draw in air. Then, the air is pushed through one or more filters to trap contaminants before being sent out again.
These filters may 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 catching microscopic particles down to .3 microns, including dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.
An air purifier can be portable and used to treat one area. Or they can be installed inside your HVAC system, giving effective filtration for your entire home.
The EPA says it’s important to know that air purifiers can’t eliminate every contaminant from your residence’s air. But when used along with an improved filter for your HVAC system, they can greatly lower the amount of indoor air pollution.
4 Perks of an Air Purifier
Getting an air purifier for your house can provide lots of great health advantages. Here are just a few of them.
1. Decreases 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. Reduces Other Symptoms Related to 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 troubles related to low indoor air quality. These entail:
- Scratchy throat, eyes, nose or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be tricky to pinpoint troubles associated with indoor air quality, since they can be triggered by many other illnesses. However, if you’re observing that symptoms lessen after you leave your residence, your indoor air quality is possibly causing the issue.
3. Gets Rid of Odors
Odors that hang around, like cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tricky to remove. If you having issues with getting rid of persistent smells in your residence, we recommend purchasing an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.
4. Might Decrease Your Likelihood of Being Sick
An air purifier can remove some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your family in good health especially during cold months. To get full advantage of this perk, we suggest a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light delivers an extra layer of defense against airborne pathogens.
Air Purifiers to Skip
You’re better off without some air purifiers. Here are a couple of options to skip when picking a system for your home:
- Produces ozone. Some air purifiers make ozone, which can bother your lungs. The EPA recommends staying away from ozone air purifiers.
- Doesn’t have HEPA filters. For the best results, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Considered the gold standard for pure air, HEPA filters are used in the majority of healthcare settings, like hospitals.
- Only purifies one room. We advise installing a whole-house air purifier, which filters the air in every room. This solution works alongside your HVAC system.
When you call the indoor air quality experts at Air Temperature Control, we make it simple to choose the best air purifier for your residence. Contact us at 478-202-3170 to start breathing healthier air right away!