If you’re shopping for an air purifier, you might be finding that some kinds are spouting lots of claims. And most of those claims might appear too good to be true. So, it’s only natural that you might be wondering are air purifiers a waste of money.
They’re worth it, according to the EPA, as they’re an excellent approach to enhance your Northglenn house’s indoor air quality. Newer residences are securely sealed and thoroughly insulated, which is excellent for energy efficiency, but not so good for indoor air quality.
As newer residences don’t typically allow in as much fresh air as old residences, irritants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can build up indoors. The consequence? 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 Northglenn Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. can help you cut through the clutter and choose the best home air purifier. Just contact us at 303-452-4146 and we’ll be happy to help. In the meantime, discover more about how air purifiers clean the air, their pluses and our recommendations to help you select the right air purifier.
How Do Air Purifiers Work?
Most home air purifiers have a fan to collect air. Then, the air moves through one or more filters to catch contaminants before being sent out again.
These filters might 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 filtering miniscule particles as little as .3 microns, such as dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.
An air purifier can be movable and used to filter one room. Or they can be fitted to your HVAC system, providing powerful filtration for your complete house.
The EPA says you should be aware that air purifiers can’t get rid of every contaminant from your residence’s air. But when used in tandem with an enhanced filter for your HVAC system, they can considerably reduce the level of indoor air pollution.
4 Perks of an Air Purifier
Installing an air purifier in your house can offer many outstanding health benefits. Here are several of them.
1. Alleviates Allergy and Asthma Triggers
Air purifiers decrease irritants in your home, such as some of these standard triggers:
- Dust
- Pollen
- Mold
- Volatile organic compounds, including cleaners, air fresheners and personal care products
2. Decreases Other Symptoms Associated with Poor Indoor Air Quality
Even if you or someone in your household doesn’t have allergies or asthma, an air purifier can lower other troubles linked to low indoor air quality. These involve:
- Dry throat, eyes, nose or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be tricky to pinpoint symptoms related to indoor air quality, as they can be caused by many other illnesses. However, if you’re observing that symptoms lessen after you leave your residence, your indoor air quality is probably causing a problem.
3. Removes Odors
Odors that hang around, including cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tricky to eliminate. If you having difficulties with eliminating strong smells in your house, our pros advise purchasing an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.
4. May Decrease Your Likelihood 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 take total advantage of this perk, we advise a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light provides an additional layer of safeguard against airborne pathogens.
Air Purifiers to Stay Away From
You’re better off without select air purifiers. Here are a few styles to stay away from when picking a system for your home:
- Produces ozone. Some air purifiers produce ozone, which can irritate your lungs. The EPA suggests staying away from ozone air purifiers.
- Doesn’t use HEPA filters. For the best filtration, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Considered the gold standard for pure air, HEPA filters are used in most healthcare settings, like hospitals.
- Only purifies a single room. We recommend using a whole-house air purifier, which purifies the air throughout your home. This style operates with your heating and cooling system.
When you work with the indoor air quality professionals at Northglenn Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc., we make it uncomplicated to choose the best air purifier for your house. Reach us at 303-452-4146 to get started breathing cleaner air today!