If you’re looking for an air purifier, you might be realizing that some kinds are spouting many claims. And some of those claims could feel too good to be true. So, it’s only typical that you might be wondering are air purifiers a waste of money.
They’re worth it, according to the EPA, since they’re a fantastic method to improve your Beckley and Mount Hope home’s indoor air quality. Today’s houses are solidly sealed and thoroughly insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so fantastic for indoor air quality.
Since updated residences don’t naturally bring in as much outside air as aging residences, contaminants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can concentrate indoors. The outcome? Air that’s more contaminated than the outdoors, which is not good if you have allergies, asthma or are susceptible to respiratory irritation.
Our indoor air quality specialists at Appalachian Heating can help you cut through the clutter and select the best home air purifier. Just contact us at 304-707-0600 and we’ll be happy to provide support. Meanwhile, learn more about how air purifiers work, their benefits and our recommendations to help you select the right air purifier.
How Do Air Purifiers Work?
Most home air purifiers use a fan to collect air. Then, the air passes through one or more filters to collect contaminants before being recirculated.
These filters can include a charcoal filter, to eliminate 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 movable and used to filter one area. Or they can be added to your HVAC system, delivering effective filtration for your entire home.
The EPA says you should know that air purifiers can’t get rid of 100% of the contaminants from your home’s air. But when used in tandem with an improved filter for your HVAC system, they can greatly decrease the concentration of indoor air pollution.
4 Pluses of an Air Purifier
Adding an air purifier to your home can provide a lot of good health advantages. Here are just a couple of them.
1. Decreases Allergy and Asthma Triggers
Air purifiers reduce contaminants in your house, including some of these common triggers:
- Dust
- Pollen
- Mold
- Volatile organic compounds, like cleaners, air fresheners and personal care products
2. Alleviates Other Issues Related to Poor Indoor Air Quality
Even if you or someone in your residence doesn’t have allergies or asthma, an air purifier can alleviate other symptoms associated with poor indoor air quality. These include:
- Scratchy throat, eyes, nose or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be hard to identify troubles related to indoor air quality, because they can be triggered by a lot of other illnesses. However, if you’re observing that symptoms lessen after you leave your residence, your indoor air quality is possibly causing a problem.
3. Eliminates Odors
Lingering odors, such as cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tricky to get rid of. If you having issues with eliminating heavy smells in your house, our professionals advise purchasing an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.
4. Might Lower Your Likelihood of Being Sick
An air purifier can remove some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your loved ones in better health even more so during winter months. To get full advantage of this plus, our pros suggest a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light delivers an additional layer of protection against airborne pathogens.
Air Purifiers to Skip
You’re better off without some air purifiers. Here are a couple of features to skip when choosing a system for your house:
- Makes ozone. Some air purifiers make ozone, which can irritate your lungs. The EPA suggests avoiding ozone air purifiers.
- Doesn’t have HEPA filters. For the best outcome, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Considered the gold standard for pure air, HEPA filters are used in most healthcare settings, such as hospitals.
- Only purifies a single room. We suggest installing a whole-house air purifier, which filters the air in every room. This solution operates in tandem with your home comfort system.
When you call the indoor air quality professionals at Appalachian Heating, we make it simple to buy the best air purifier for your residence. Reach us at 304-707-0600 to start breathing healthier air right away!