If you’re looking for an air purifier, you may be realizing that some manufacturers are spouting many claims. And many of those claims could seem too good to be true. So, it’s only expected that you could be thinking are air purifiers a waste of money.
They’re useful, according to the EPA, since they’re an excellent way to improve your Dundas and Northfield home’s indoor air quality. Today’s houses are tightly sealed and thoroughly insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so fantastic for indoor air quality.
Since modern residences don’t naturally let in as much outdoor air as older homes, contaminants such as dust, pet dander and cleaning products can build up inside. The consequence? Air that’s more contaminated than the outdoors, which is not good if you have allergies, asthma or are sensitive to respiratory irritation.
Our indoor air quality pros at Better Air can help you cut through the clutter and select the best home air purifier. Just call us at 507-663-1208 and we’ll be happy to provide support. In the meantime, discover more about how air purifiers operate, their pluses and our recommendations to help you select the best air purifier.
How Does an Air Purification System Improve Indoor Air Quality?
Most home air purifiers have a fan to draw in air. Then, the air is pushed through one or more filters to trap irritants before being redistributed.
These filters can 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 tiny particles as little as .3 microns, such as dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.
An air purifier can be movable and used to filter a single area. Or they can be added to your HVAC system, giving effective filtration for your total residence.
The EPA says it’s important to know that air purifiers can’t eliminate 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 reduce the concentration of indoor air pollution.
4 Perks of an Air Purifier
Getting an air purifier for your residence can give many great health pluses. Here are just a few of them.
1. Lowers Allergy and Asthma Triggers
Air purifiers reduce pollutants in your home, like 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 home doesn’t struggle with allergies or asthma, an air purifier can lower other symptoms associated with bad indoor air quality. These include:
- Scratchy throat, eyes, nose or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be tricky to identify troubles related to indoor air quality, since they can be linked to many other illnesses. However, if you’re observing that symptoms are better after you leave home, your indoor air quality is possibly causing a problem.
3. Eliminates Odors
Lingering odors, such as cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tough to remove. If you having difficulties with removing strong smells in your house, our pros suggest purchasing an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.
4. Might Lower Your Probability of Getting Sick
An air purifier can remove some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your loved ones healthier especially during winter months. To get total advantage of this plus, our pros suggest a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light gives an extra layer of defense against airborne pathogens.
Air Purification Systems to Skip
You’re better off without select air purifiers. Here are several features to avoid when selecting a system for your house:
- Creates ozone. Some air purifiers produce ozone, which can irritate 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. Known as the gold standard for clean air, HEPA filters are used in most healthcare settings, including hospitals.
- Only purifies one room. We recommend installing a whole-house air purifier, which purifies the air throughout your home. This option works in tandem with your HVAC system.
When you partner with the indoor air quality experts at Better Air, we make it uncomplicated to buy the best air purifier for your residence. Give us a call at 507-663-1208 to begin breathing healthier air now!