If you’re looking for an air purifier, you may be finding that some manufacturers are spouting many claims. And most of those claims may feel too good to be true. So, it’s only typical that you might be questioning are air purifiers a waste of money.
They’re useful, according to the EPA, as they’re a great approach to improve your Savage house’s indoor air quality. Newer homes are securely sealed and deeply insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so fantastic for indoor air quality.
Because modern houses don’t typically allow in as much outdoor air as older residences, irritants such as dust, pet dander and cleaning products can accumulate in your home. The consequence? Air that’s more contaminated than the outdoors, which is not good if you struggle with allergies, asthma or are sensitive to respiratory irritation.
Our indoor air quality professionals at Gopher Heating and Air Conditioning can help you cut through the clutter and choose the best home air purifier. Just give us a call at 952-373-0377 and we’ll be happy to provide support. In the meantime, find out 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 passes through one or more filters to collect irritants before being sent out again.
These filters might have a charcoal filter, to remove odors, and a HEPA, or high efficiency particulate air, filter. A HEPA filter is at least 99.7% effective at catching miniscule particles down to .3 microns, such as dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.
An air purifier can be portable and used to treat one space. Or they can be installed inside your HVAC system, providing powerful filtration for your entire house.
The EPA says it’s important to know that air purifiers can’t get rid of all the contaminants from your home’s air. But when used along with a better filter for your HVAC system, they can greatly lower the amount of indoor air pollution.
4 Perks of an Air Purifier
Installing an air purifier in your residence can provide many great health advantages. Here are just a few of them.
1. Reduces Allergy and Asthma Triggers
Air purifiers lower contaminants in your house, including 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 household doesn’t struggle with allergies or asthma, an air purifier can decrease other issues associated with bad indoor air quality. These include:
- Scratchy throat, eyes, nose or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be hard to determine issues related to indoor air quality, as they can be caused by lots of other illnesses. However, if you’re noticing that symptoms lessen after you leave your residence, your indoor air quality is probably causing a problem.
3. Eliminates Odors
Lingering odors, such as cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tough to eliminate. If you having problems with eliminating strong smells in your residence, our professionals suggest purchasing an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.
4. Can Lower Your Chance of Becoming Sick
An air purifier can eliminate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your loved ones healthier particularly during colder months. To receive total advantage of this plus, we recommend a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light delivers an extra layer of defense against airborne pathogens.
Air Purifiers to Stay Away From
You’re better off without certain air purifiers. Here are a couple of styles to stay away from when selecting a system for your house:
- Produces ozone. Some air purifiers create ozone, which can aggravate your lungs. The EPA suggests avoiding ozone air purifiers.
- Doesn’t include HEPA filters. For the best results, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Known as the gold standard for healthy air, HEPA filters are used in many healthcare settings, including hospitals.
- Only purifies one room. We recommend installing a whole-house air purifier, which filters the air across your home. This option runs alongside your HVAC system.
When you work with the indoor air quality specialists at Gopher Heating and Air Conditioning, we make it uncomplicated to choose the best air purifier for your residence. Reach us at 952-373-0377 to get started breathing healthier air right away!