If you’re in the market for an air purifier, you might be noticing that some brands are spouting many claims. And many of those claims may feel too good to be true. So, it’s only natural that you may be wondering are air purifiers a waste of money.
They’re useful, according to the EPA, because they’re a fantastic way to enhance your Hodgenville home’s indoor air quality. Newer homes are tightly sealed and heavily insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so good for indoor air quality.
As modern homes don’t normally let in as much fresh air as older residences, pollutants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can build up in your home. The result? Air that’s more polluted than the outdoors, which is not good if you are dealing with allergies, asthma or are vulnerable to respiratory irritation.
Our indoor air quality professionals at Phelps Heating & Cooling, Inc. can help you cut through the clutter and choose the best home air purifier. Just give us a call at 270-358-3167 and we’ll be happy to provide support. For now, discover more about how air purifiers clean the air, their pluses and our suggestions to help you find the best air purifier.
How Does an Air Purification System Improve Indoor Air Quality?
Most home air purifiers rely on a fan to collect air. Then, the air is pushed through one or more filters to trap pollutants before being recirculated.
These filters may have 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 miniscule particles as little as .3 microns, including dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.
An air purifier can be lightweight and used to treat an individual room. Or they can be installed inside your HVAC system, providing effective filtration for your complete residence.
The EPA says you should know that air purifiers can’t remove all the contaminants from your house’s air. But when used in combination with an enhanced filter for your HVAC system, they can considerably reduce the concentration of indoor air pollution.
4 Benefits of an Air Purifier
Installing an air purifier in your home can give lots of outstanding health perks. Here are just a few of them.
1. Lowers Allergy and Asthma Triggers
Air purifiers decrease irritants in your home, like some of these typical triggers:
- Dust
- Pollen
- Mold
- Volatile organic compounds, including cleaners, air fresheners and personal care products
2. Alleviates Other Problems 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 reduce other issues linked to poor indoor air quality. These include:
- Itchy throat, eyes, nose or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be hard to distinguish symptoms associated with indoor air quality, since they can be linked to lots of other illnesses. However, if you’re observing that symptoms lessen after you leave home, your indoor air quality is probably causing a problem.
3. Removes Odors
Odors that hang around, like cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be difficult to eliminate. If you having difficulties with eliminating strong smells in your home, we advise getting an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.
4. May Decrease Your Chance of Being Sick
An air purifier can remove some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your loved ones healthier especially during colder months. To receive total advantage of this plus, our pros suggest a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light delivers an extra layer of safeguard against airborne pathogens.
Air Purification Systems to Avoid
You’re better off without select air purifiers. Here are several styles to stay away from when choosing a system for your house:
- Creates ozone. Some air purifiers create 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. Considered the gold standard for clean air, HEPA filters are used in the majority of healthcare settings, such as hospitals.
- Only purifies an individual room. We suggest installing a whole-house air purifier, which cleans the air in every room. This style works alongside your home comfort system.
When you call the indoor air quality professionals at Phelps Heating & Cooling, Inc., we make it simple to buy the best air purifier for your residence. Give us a call at 270-358-3167 to start breathing cleaner air today!