If you’re shopping for an air purifier, you could be realizing that some kinds are spouting many claims. And most of those claims may seem too good to be true. So, it’s only expected that you could be questioning are air purifiers a waste of money.
They’re worth it, according to the EPA, since they’re an excellent method to enhance your Payson home’s indoor air quality. Modern residences are securely sealed and heavily insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so fantastic for indoor air quality.
As modern residences don’t typically let in as much outside air as aging houses, pollutants like dust, pet dander and cleaning products can build up indoors. The consequence? Air that’s dirtier than the outdoors, which is a problem if you have allergies, asthma or are susceptible to respiratory irritation.
Our indoor air quality pros at North Mechanical Heating and Cooling can help you cut through the clutter and select the best home air purifier. Just contact us at 928-263-8570 and we’ll be happy to help. For now, learn more about how air purifiers work, their perks and our suggestions to help you choose the right air purifier.
How Do Air Purifiers Work?
Most home air purifiers have a fan to collect air. Then, the air is pushed through one or more filters to catch pollutants before being recirculated.
These filters can incorporate 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 filtering microscopic particles as little as .3 microns, like dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.
An air purifier can be compact and used to filter a single space. Or they can be installed inside your HVAC system, giving strong filtration for your complete residence.
The EPA says it’s important to know that air purifiers can’t eliminate 100% of the contaminants from your residence’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 Advantages of an Air Purifier
Installing an air purifier in your house can give many outstanding health advantages. Here are just a couple of them.
1. Reduces 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. Reduces Other Symptoms Associated with Poor Indoor Air Quality
Even if you or someone in your residence doesn’t experience allergies or asthma, an air purifier can lower other troubles related to low indoor air quality. These involve:
- Itchy throat, eyes, nose or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be tricky to distinguish issues related to indoor air quality, since they can be triggered by lots of other illnesses. However, if you’re aware that symptoms lessen after you leave your residence, your indoor air quality is probably causing trouble.
3. Gets Rid of Odors
Odors that hang around, like cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tricky to get rid of. If you having issues with getting rid of persistent smells in your house, our pros suggest purchasing an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.
4. Might Reduce Your Chance of Being Sick
An air purifier can remove some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your family in good health especially during colder months. To take total advantage of this plus, our professionals recommend a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light delivers an additional layer of protection against airborne pathogens.
Air Purifiers to Avoid
You’re better off without certain air purifiers. Here are a couple of options to skip when picking a system for your residence:
- Makes ozone. Some air purifiers make ozone, which can bother 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. Known as the gold standard for clean air, HEPA filters are used in the majority of healthcare settings, including hospitals.
- Only purifies an individual room. We advise installing a whole-house air purifier, which purifies the air across your home. This option operates with your heating and cooling system.
When you work with the indoor air quality specialists at North Mechanical Heating and Cooling, we make it simple to select the best air purifier for your residence. Give us a call at 928-263-8570 to get started breathing healthier air now!