If you’re looking for an air purifier, you may be finding that some brands are producing lots of claims. And most of those claims could appear too good to be true. So, it’s only typical that you might be wondering are air purifiers a waste of money.
They’re worthwhile, according to the EPA, as they’re an excellent method to better your Huffman house’s indoor air quality. Today’s residences are solidly sealed and thoroughly insulated, which is excellent for energy efficiency, but not so fantastic for indoor air quality.
Since modern houses don’t typically allow in as much outside air as aging residences, pollutants such as dust, pet dander, and cleaning products can concentrate indoors. The result? Air that’s more contaminated than the outdoors, which is bad news if you are dealing with allergies, asthma, or are sensitive to respiratory irritation.
Our indoor air quality specialists at Air Houston Mechanical LLC can help you cut through the clutter and choose the best home air purifier. Just contact us at (832) 957-9332 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 find the ideal air purifier.
How Do Air Purifiers Work?
Most home air purifiers have a fan to draw in air. Then, the air moves through one or more filters to trap pollutants 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 catching microscopic particles down to .3 microns, like dust, pollen, mold, and some bacteria.
An air purifier can be compact and used to filter an individual space. Or they can be installed inside your HVAC system, providing strong filtration for your entire house.
The EPA says you should know that air purifiers can’t eliminate 100% of the contaminants from your home’s air. But when used in combination with an improved filter for your HVAC system, they can significantly decrease the level of indoor air pollution.
4 Advantages of an Air Purifier
Getting an air purifier for your residence can offer lots of good health pluses. Here are just a couple of them.
- Decreases Allergy and Asthma Triggers
Air purifiers reduce irritants in your residence, like some of these standard triggers:- Dust
- Pollen
- Mold
- Volatile organic compounds, including cleaners, air fresheners, and personal care products
- Alleviates Other Issues Related 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 troubles related to low indoor air quality. This entail:- Scratchy throat, eyes, nose, or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be tricky to pinpoint troubles associated with indoor air quality since they can be caused by many other illnesses. However, if you’re observing that symptoms are better after you leave home, your indoor air quality is probably causing trouble.
- Removes Odors
Persistent odors, such as cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tricky to eliminate. If you are having issues with getting rid of heavy smells in your house, our professionals advise getting an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter. - Might Reduce Your Likelihood of Becoming Sick
An air purifier can inactivate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your family in better health, especially during colder months. To get full advantage of this perk, we suggest a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light delivers an extra layer of defense against airborne pathogens.
Air Purifiers to Stay Away From
You’re better off without certain 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 irritate your lungs. The EPA suggests skipping ozone air purifiers.
- Doesn’t have HEPA filters. For the best results, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Regarded as the gold standard for pure air, HEPA filters are used in many healthcare settings, such as hospitals.
- Only purifies an individual room. We recommend installing a whole-house air purifier, which filters the air across your home. This style runs with your HVAC system.
When you call the indoor air quality specialists at Air Houston Mechanical LLC, we make it easy to choose the best air purifier for your residence. Contact us at (832) 957-9332 to get started breathing fresher air right away!
