If you’re in the market for an air purifier, you may be noticing that some manufacturers are making lots of claims. And most of those claims might feel too good to be true. So, it’s only expected that you may be thinking are air purifiers a waste of money.

They’re worth it, according to the EPA, as they’re a fantastic approach to enhance your Macon residence’s indoor air quality. Newer residences are solidly sealed and thoroughly insulated, which is fantastic for energy efficiency, but not so fantastic for indoor air quality.

Since newer homes don’t naturally bring in as much outdoor air as older houses, pollutants such as dust, pet dander and cleaning products can build up indoors. The outcome? Air that’s more contaminated than the outdoors, which is not good if you are dealing with allergies, asthma or are sensitive to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality specialists at Air Temperature Control can help you cut through the clutter and find the best home air purifier. Just call us at 478-202-3170 and we’ll be happy to help. For now, find out more about how air purifiers operate, their pluses and our advice to help you select the best air purifier.

How Do Air Purifiers Work?

Most home air purifiers rely on a fan to draw in air. Then, the air moves through one or more filters to collect contaminants before being sent out again.

These filters can 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 capturing miniscule particles as little as .3 microns, including dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be compact and used to purify a single space. Or they can be fitted to your HVAC system, delivering effective filtration for your total house.

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

4 Perks of an Air Purifier

Getting an air purifier for your house can give a lot of good health advantages. Here are just a couple of them.

1. Lowers Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers decrease pollutants in your residence, such as some of these standard triggers:

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

2. Reduces Other Symptoms Linked to Poor Indoor Air Quality

Even if you or someone in your home doesn’t experience allergies or asthma, an air purifier can reduce other issues related to low 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 related to indoor air quality, because they can be triggered by many other illnesses. However, if you’re aware that symptoms are better after you leave your residence, your indoor air quality is likely causing the issue.

3. Gets Rid of Odors

Odors that hang around, such as cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tricky to remove. If you are having a hard time with getting rid of strong smells in your home, our professionals suggest buying an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. Can Decrease Your Probability of Getting Sick

An air purifier can eliminate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your family healthier even more so during colder months. To receive full advantage of this plus, our pros recommend a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light provides an extra layer of safeguard against airborne pathogens.

Air Purifiers to Stay Away From

You’re better off without certain air purifiers. Here are a few features to stay away from when picking a system for your residence:

  • Produces ozone. Some air purifiers produce ozone, which can aggravate your lungs. The EPA recommends avoiding ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t include HEPA filters. For the best outcome, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Considered the gold standard for clean air, HEPA filters are used in the majority of healthcare settings, such as hospitals.
  • Only purifies one room. We advise getting a whole-house air purifier, which filters the air across your home. This solution works alongside your home comfort system.

When you work with the indoor air quality experts at Air Temperature Control, we make it simple to select the best air purifier for your residence. Reach us at 478-202-3170 to get started breathing fresher air now!