If you’re in the market for an air purifier, you may be finding that some brands are spouting many claims. And many of those claims might appear too good to be true. So, it’s only natural that you could be questioning are air purifiers a waste of money.
They’re worthwhile, according to the EPA, because they’re an excellent method to better your Columbus residence’s indoor air quality. Newer homes are securely sealed and deeply insulated, which is excellent for energy efficiency, but not so fantastic for indoor air quality.
Because updated homes don’t naturally allow in as much outdoor air as aging homes, contaminants such as dust, pet dander and cleaning products can accumulate indoors. The outcome? 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 Wolfe & Sons Heating and Cooling can help you cut through the clutter and select the best home air purifier. Just contact us at 614-451-0846 and we’ll be happy to help. In the meantime, discover more about how air purifiers operate, their advantages and our recommendations to help you find the ideal air purifier.
How Do Air Purifiers Work?
Most home air purifiers have a fan to pull in air. Then, the air passes through one or more filters to catch irritants 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 catching tiny particles down to .3 microns, such as dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.
An air purifier can be movable and used to treat one space. Or they can be added to your HVAC system, giving powerful filtration for your total home.
The EPA says you should know that air purifiers can’t remove all the contaminants from your residence’s air. But when used in tandem with a better filter for your HVAC system, they can significantly decrease the concentration of indoor air pollution.
4 Pluses of an Air Purifier
Adding an air purifier to your house can give a lot of great health perks. Here are just a couple of them.
1. Decreases Allergy and Asthma Triggers
Air purifiers reduce irritants in your home, including some of these common triggers:
- Dust
- Pollen
- Mold
- Volatile organic compounds, like 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 alleviate other symptoms linked to poor indoor air quality. These entail:
- Itchy throat, eyes, nose or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be difficult to identify troubles related to indoor air quality, as they can be linked to many other illnesses. However, if you’re noticing that you feel better after you leave your residence, your indoor air quality is likely causing the issue.
3. Removes Odors
Persistent odors, such as cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tough to eliminate. If you struggle with eliminating heavy smells in your house, our pros suggest purchasing an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.
4. May Reduce Your Probability of Becoming Sick
An air purifier can eliminate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your family in better health particularly during colder months. To take full advantage of this plus, we recommend a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light provides an additional layer of defense against airborne pathogens.
Air Purifiers to Avoid
You’re better off without select air purifiers. Here are several styles to avoid when selecting a system for your home:
- Makes ozone. Some air purifiers create ozone, which can bother your lungs. The EPA suggests skipping ozone air purifiers.
- Doesn’t use HEPA filters. For the best filtration, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Considered the gold standard for healthy air, HEPA filters are used in the majority of healthcare settings, like hospitals.
- Only purifies an individual room. We recommend using a whole-house air purifier, which filters the air in every room. This option works with your heating and cooling system.
When you work with the indoor air quality professionals at Wolfe & Sons Heating and Cooling, we make it easy to choose the best air purifier for your house. Reach us at 614-451-0846 to start breathing cleaner air today!