If you’re in the market for an air purifier, you might be noticing that some brands are producing many claims. And some of those claims might appear too good to be true. So, it’s only expected that you may be wondering are air purifiers a waste of money.
They’re worthwhile, according to the EPA, since they’re an excellent way to improve your Cambridge home’s indoor air quality. Newer homes are securely sealed and deeply insulated, which is fantastic for energy efficiency, but not so good for indoor air quality.
Since modern houses don’t naturally let in as much outside air as older residences, irritants such as dust, pet dander and cleaning products can build up indoors. The consequence? Air that’s dirtier than the outdoors, which is not good if you have allergies, asthma or are vulnerable to respiratory irritation.
Our indoor air quality specialists at Pliescott HVAC Services LLC can help you cut through the clutter and find the best home air purifier. Just call us at 410-228-4822 and we’ll be happy to help. In the meantime, learn more about how air purifiers operate, their pluses and our suggestions to help you select the ideal air purifier.
How Do Air Purifiers Work?
Most home air purifiers use a fan to collect air. Then, the air passes through one or more filters to trap irritants before being recirculated.
These filters can include 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 capturing miniscule particles down to .3 microns, including dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.
An air purifier can be compact and used to purify one room. Or they can be installed inside your HVAC system, delivering effective filtration for your complete residence.
The EPA says it’s important to know that air purifiers can’t eliminate 100% of the contaminants from your home’s air. But when used along with an enhanced filter for your HVAC system, they can significantly decrease the concentration of indoor air pollution.
4 Pluses of an Air Purifier
Getting an air purifier for your house can deliver many outstanding health benefits. Here are just a couple of them.
1. Alleviates Allergy and Asthma Triggers
Air purifiers reduce contaminants in your house, like some of these standard triggers:
- Dust
- Pollen
- Mold
- Volatile organic compounds, including cleaners, air fresheners and personal care products
2. Alleviates Other Symptoms Linked to Poor Indoor Air Quality
Even if you or someone in your residence doesn’t experience allergies or asthma, an air purifier can reduce other issues associated with low indoor air quality. These involve:
- Scratchy throat, eyes, nose or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be tricky to identify issues linked to indoor air quality, since they can be linked to many other illnesses. However, if you’re observing that symptoms are better after you leave your residence, your indoor air quality is possibly causing the issue.
3. Gets Rid of Odors
Odors that hang around, including cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tough to get rid of. If you having issues with eliminating strong smells in your home, we suggest buying an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.
4. May Reduce Your Likelihood of Becoming Sick
An air purifier can inactivate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your loved ones in better health even more so during cold months. To get total advantage of this perk, our pros advise a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light provides an additional layer of protection against airborne pathogens.
Air Purifiers to Stay Away From
You’re better off without select air purifiers. Here are a few features to stay away from when picking a system for your home:
- Makes ozone. Some air purifiers create ozone, which can irritate your lungs. The EPA advises skipping 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 healthy air, HEPA filters are used in the majority of healthcare settings, such as hospitals.
- Only purifies a single room. We advise getting a whole-house air purifier, which cleans the air across your home. This solution operates alongside your heating and cooling system.
When you work with the indoor air quality experts at Pliescott HVAC Services LLC , we make it uncomplicated to select the best air purifier for your residence. Give us a call at 410-228-4822 to begin breathing healthier air today!