If you’re shopping for an air purifier, you could be realizing that some kinds are spouting many claims. And some of those claims might feel too good to be true. So, it’s only expected that you might be questioning are air purifiers a waste of money.

They’re worthwhile, according to the EPA, because they’re an excellent approach to improve your Arlington residence’s indoor air quality. Newer residences are solidly sealed and heavily insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so fantastic for indoor air quality.

As newer homes don’t naturally let in as much outside air as aging houses, contaminants like 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 are dealing with 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 choose the best home air purifier. Just call us at 360-255-5857 and we’ll be happy to provide support. In the meantime, find out more about how air purifiers work, their perks and our suggestions to help you choose the right air purifier.

How Do Air Purifiers Work?

Most home air purifiers rely on a fan to pull in air. Then, the air passes through one or more filters to trap contaminants before being redistributed.

These filters might incorporate 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 down to .3 microns, including dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be lightweight and used to purify one space. Or they can be added to your HVAC system, delivering effective filtration for your complete house.

The EPA says you should know that air purifiers can’t eliminate 100% of the contaminants from your house’s air. But when used in combination with a better filter for your HVAC system, they can considerably reduce the amount of indoor air pollution.

4 Benefits of an Air Purifier

Adding an air purifier to your residence can deliver lots of great health advantages. Here are just a couple of them.

1. Decreases Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers decrease irritants in your home, 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 residence doesn’t experience allergies or asthma, an air purifier can reduce other symptoms associated with low indoor air quality. These entail:

  • Dry throat, eyes, nose or skin
  • Headaches
  • Sneezing and coughing
  • Fatigue
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea

It can be hard to identify troubles associated with indoor air quality, since they can be linked to a lot of other illnesses. However, if you’re observing that symptoms are better after you leave your residence, your indoor air quality is probably causing the issue.

3. Removes Odors

Odors that hang around, such as cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be difficult to eliminate. If you having problems with getting rid of persistent smells in your house, our pros advise purchasing an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. Can Decrease Your Probability of Becoming Sick

An air purifier can remove some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your family healthier especially during winter months. To receive complete advantage of this benefit, our professionals recommend a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light delivers an extra layer of protection against airborne pathogens.

Air Purifiers to Avoid

You’re better off without some air purifiers. Here are a couple of styles to avoid when picking a system for your home:

  • Makes ozone. Some air purifiers create ozone, which can bother 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 pure air, HEPA filters are used in the majority of healthcare settings, like hospitals.
  • Only purifies an individual room. We suggest using a whole-house air purifier, which purifies the air across your home. This solution runs with your HVAC system.

When you call the indoor air quality professionals at Service Max Heating & Air Conditioning, we make it uncomplicated to choose the best air purifier for your house. Give us a call at 360-255-5857 to get started breathing fresher air now!