If you’re shopping for an air purifier, you could be finding that some kinds are spouting a lot of claims. And most of those claims could seem 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 way to better your Phoenix home’s indoor air quality. Newer residences are tightly sealed and thoroughly insulated, which is fantastic for energy efficiency, but not so excellent for indoor air quality.

Because updated houses don’t normally let in as much outdoor air as old residences, pollutants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can concentrate indoors. The result? Air that’s more polluted than the outdoors, which is not good if you are dealing with allergies, asthma or are susceptible to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality professionals 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 provide support. For now, find out more about how air purifiers work, their pluses and our advice to help you find the right air purifier.

How Do Air Purifiers Work?

Most home air purifiers have a fan to pull in air. Then, the air passes through one or more filters to catch irritants before being recirculated.

These filters can have 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 as little as .3 microns, such as dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be movable and used to filter one space. Or they can be installed inside your HVAC system, providing effective filtration for your complete home.

The EPA says you should be aware that air purifiers can’t remove every contaminant from your house’s air. But when used in tandem with an enhanced filter for your HVAC system, they can significantly reduce the concentration of indoor air pollution.

4 Perks of an Air Purifier

Adding an air purifier to your house can offer a lot of outstanding health advantages. Here are just a few of them.

1. Decreases Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers decrease pollutants in your house, including some of these standard triggers:

  • Dust
  • Pollen
  • Mold
  • Volatile organic compounds, including cleaners, air fresheners and personal care products

2. Alleviates Other Problems Associated with Poor Indoor Air Quality

Even if you or someone in your residence doesn’t experience allergies or asthma, an air purifier can alleviate other symptoms linked to poor indoor air quality. These involve:

  • Scratchy throat, eyes, nose or skin
  • Headaches
  • Sneezing and coughing
  • Fatigue
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea

It can be tricky to identify issues associated with indoor air quality, as they can be caused by many other illnesses. However, if you’re aware that symptoms are better after you leave your house, your indoor air quality is probably causing trouble.

3. Removes Odors

Lingering odors, such as cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be difficult to remove. If you are having a hard time with eliminating strong smells in your residence, our professionals recommend buying an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. May Decrease Your Chance of Being Sick

An air purifier can eliminate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your household in better health even more so during winter months. To get total advantage of this benefit, our professionals advise a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light delivers an additional layer of safeguard against airborne pathogens.

Air Purifiers to Stay Away From

You’re better off without certain air purifiers. Here are several features to skip when picking a system for your home:

  • Produces ozone. Some air purifiers produce ozone, which can bother 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 clean air, HEPA filters are used in many healthcare settings, like hospitals.
  • Only purifies a single room. We recommend using a whole-house air purifier, which filters the air throughout your home. This style runs with your heating and cooling system.

When you partner with the indoor air quality specialists at Integrity AC & Heating LLC, we make it uncomplicated to choose the best air purifier for your home. Reach us at 602-971-0567 to begin breathing healthier air now!