If you’re looking for an air purifier, you may be finding that some kinds are making lots of claims. And many of those claims may feel too good to be true. So, it’s only natural that you could be questioning are air purifiers a waste of money.
They’re useful, according to the EPA, as they’re an excellent way to enhance your Phoenix house’s indoor air quality. Today’s homes are securely sealed and deeply insulated, which is fantastic for energy efficiency, but not so fantastic for indoor air quality.
Since updated homes don’t typically allow in as much outside air as older homes, contaminants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can build up indoors. The outcome? Air that’s dirtier than the outdoors, which is not good if you struggle with allergies, asthma or are vulnerable to respiratory irritation.
Our indoor air quality specialists at Integrity AC & Heating LLC can help you cut through the clutter and find the best home air purifier. Just give us a call at 602-971-0567 and we’ll be happy to help. Meanwhile, discover more about how air purifiers work, their perks and our suggestions to help you choose the ideal air purifier.
How Do Air Purifiers Work?
Most home air purifiers use a fan to collect air. Then, the air moves through one or more filters to collect contaminants before being recirculated.
These filters can 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 capturing miniscule particles as little as .3 microns, including dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.
An air purifier can be lightweight and used to treat a single area. Or they can be installed inside your HVAC system, giving effective filtration for your total residence.
The EPA says you should be aware that air purifiers can’t get rid of all the contaminants from your home’s air. But when used in combination with an improved filter for your HVAC system, they can greatly lower the concentration of indoor air pollution.
4 Pluses of an Air Purifier
Getting an air purifier for your house can provide a lot of good health perks. Here are just a few of them.
1. Lowers Allergy and Asthma Triggers
Air purifiers reduce pollutants in your home, such as some of these typical triggers:
- Dust
- Pollen
- Mold
- Volatile organic compounds, such as cleaners, air fresheners and personal care products
2. Reduces Other Symptoms Related to Poor Indoor Air Quality
Even if you or someone in your household doesn’t experience allergies or asthma, an air purifier can lower other symptoms linked to poor indoor air quality. These entail:
- Dry throat, eyes, nose or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be tricky to pinpoint issues linked to indoor air quality, since they can be linked to many other illnesses. However, if you’re noticing that symptoms are better after you leave your residence, your indoor air quality is likely to blame.
3. Eliminates Odors
Lingering odors, like cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tricky to remove. If you having issues with getting rid of persistent smells in your house, our professionals advise purchasing an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.
4. May Decrease Your Likelihood of Getting Sick
An air purifier can remove some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your loved ones healthier particularly during cold months. To get total advantage of this benefit, our pros advise a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light provides an additional layer of safeguard against airborne pathogens.
Air Purifiers to Skip
You’re better off without some air purifiers. Here are a few features to skip when picking a system for your residence:
- Creates ozone. Some air purifiers produce ozone, which can aggravate your lungs. The EPA advises staying away from ozone air purifiers.
- Doesn’t include HEPA filters. For the best outcome, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Known as the gold standard for clean air, HEPA filters are used in the majority of healthcare settings, such as hospitals.
- Only purifies an individual room. We recommend installing a whole-house air purifier, which filters the air in every room. This option runs alongside your home comfort system.
When you partner with the indoor air quality professionals at Integrity AC & Heating LLC, we make it simple to choose the best air purifier for your house. Contact us at 602-971-0567 to get started breathing cleaner air today!