If you’re looking for an air purifier, you might be finding that some brands are producing many claims. And some of those claims could appear too good to be true. So, it’s only expected that you might be questioning are air purifiers a waste of money.
They’re worth it, according to the EPA, as they’re a fantastic approach to enhance your Arlington home’s indoor air quality. Today’s houses are solidly sealed and heavily insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so good for indoor air quality.
Because modern homes don’t naturally let in as much outside air as older houses, irritants like dust, pet dander and cleaning products can build up inside. The outcome? Air that’s dirtier than the outdoors, which is a problem if you have allergies, asthma or are susceptible to respiratory irritation.
Our indoor air quality pros at Service Max Heating & Air Conditioning can help you cut through the clutter and select the best home air purifier. Just give us a call at 360-255-5857 and we’ll be happy to provide support. For now, find out more about how air purifiers work, their advantages and our recommendations to help you select the ideal air purifier.
How Do Air Purifiers Work?
Most home air purifiers use a fan to draw in air. Then, the air passes through one or more filters to collect contaminants before being sent out again.
These filters might incorporate 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 filtering miniscule particles as small as .3 microns, such as dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.
An air purifier can be compact and used to filter one room. Or they can be added to your HVAC system, delivering effective filtration for your total residence.
The EPA says it’s important to know that air purifiers can’t remove 100% of the contaminants from your house’s air. But when used along with an enhanced filter for your HVAC system, they can greatly lower the concentration of indoor air pollution.
4 Advantages of an Air Purifier
Adding an air purifier to your residence can offer many outstanding health benefits. Here are several of them.
1. Reduces Allergy and Asthma Triggers
Air purifiers decrease pollutants in your house, such as some of these common triggers:
- Dust
- Pollen
- Mold
- Volatile organic compounds, like cleaners, air fresheners and personal care products
2. Reduces Other Issues Related to Poor Indoor Air Quality
Even if you or someone in your home doesn’t experience allergies or asthma, an air purifier can lower other symptoms linked to low indoor air quality. These entail:
- Scratchy throat, eyes, nose or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be difficult to distinguish symptoms associated with indoor air quality, because they can be linked to a lot of other illnesses. However, if you’re noticing that symptoms lessen after you leave your house, your indoor air quality is probably causing the issue.
3. Eliminates Odors
Persistent odors, such as cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be difficult to get rid of. If you having problems with getting rid of strong smells in your house, we recommend purchasing an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.
4. May Reduce Your Chance of Being Sick
An air purifier can inactivate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your family in better health particularly during colder months. To get complete advantage of this plus, our professionals advise a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light delivers an extra layer of safeguard against airborne pathogens.
Air Purifiers to Avoid
You’re better off without certain air purifiers. Here are several features to avoid when picking a system for your home:
- Creates 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 outcome, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Regarded as the gold standard for clean air, HEPA filters are used in the majority of healthcare settings, including hospitals.
- Only purifies a single room. We suggest installing a whole-house air purifier, which cleans the air across your home. This solution works with your heating and cooling system.
When you partner with the indoor air quality professionals at Service Max Heating & Air Conditioning, we make it uncomplicated to choose the best air purifier for your home. Contact us at 360-255-5857 to begin breathing healthier air right away!