If you’re in the market for an air purifier, you might be noticing that some kinds are spouting lots of claims. And some of those claims could appear too good to be true. So, it’s only natural that you could be thinking are air purifiers a waste of money.
They’re useful, according to the EPA, as they’re a fantastic method to improve your New Castle home’s indoor air quality. Today’s houses are securely sealed and thoroughly insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so fantastic for indoor air quality.
As updated homes don’t typically let in as much outside air as old residences, contaminants such as dust, pet dander and cleaning products can build up indoors. The consequence? Air that’s more contaminated than the outdoors, which is not good if you are dealing with allergies, asthma or are sensitive to respiratory irritation.
Our indoor air quality professionals at Central Heating & Plumbing can help you cut through the clutter and select the best home air purifier. Just call us at 724-401-1843 and we’ll be happy to provide support. For now, learn more about how air purifiers operate, their pluses and our advice to help you select the best air purifier.
How Do Air Purifiers Work?
Most home air purifiers use a fan to draw in air. Then, the air moves through one or more filters to collect pollutants before being sent out again.
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 capturing microscopic particles as little as .3 microns, like dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.
An air purifier can be movable and used to filter an individual area. Or they can be installed inside your HVAC system, providing effective filtration for your entire house.
The EPA says you should be aware that air purifiers can’t get rid of all the contaminants from your house’s air. But when used in combination with an enhanced filter for your HVAC system, they can considerably lower the concentration of indoor air pollution.
4 Pluses of an Air Purifier
Installing an air purifier in your house can deliver a lot of good health advantages. Here are several of them.
1. Reduces Allergy and Asthma Triggers
Air purifiers reduce contaminants in your residence, like some of these typical triggers:
- Dust
- Pollen
- Mold
- Volatile organic compounds, such as cleaners, air fresheners and personal care products
2. Alleviates Other Issues Associated with Poor Indoor Air Quality
Even if you or someone in your household doesn’t experience allergies or asthma, an air purifier can alleviate other symptoms related to bad indoor air quality. These include:
- Dry throat, eyes, nose or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be difficult to determine symptoms related to indoor air quality, since they can be triggered by a lot of other illnesses. However, if you’re noticing that symptoms are better after you leave your residence, your indoor air quality is probably causing a problem.
3. Eliminates Odors
Persistent odors, like cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be difficult to eliminate. If you having difficulties with getting rid of heavy smells in your home, we recommend buying an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.
4. May Decrease Your Probability of Being Sick
An air purifier can eliminate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your loved ones in better health particularly during winter months. To take complete advantage of this benefit, our pros suggest a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light delivers an extra layer of safeguard against airborne pathogens.
Air Purifiers to Stay Away From
You’re better off without some air purifiers. Here are a few features to skip when selecting a system for your home:
- Produces ozone. Some air purifiers create ozone, which can bother your lungs. The EPA advises skipping ozone air purifiers.
- Doesn’t include 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 the majority of healthcare settings, like hospitals.
- Only purifies an individual room. We recommend installing a whole-house air purifier, which cleans the air in every room. This style operates alongside your heating and cooling system.
When you work with the indoor air quality specialists at Central Heating & Plumbing, we make it easy to buy the best air purifier for your house. Reach us at 724-401-1843 to begin breathing cleaner air today!