If you’re looking for an air purifier, you might be finding that some kinds are spouting many claims. And many of those claims might feel 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, because they’re a great way to improve your Florissant residence’s indoor air quality. Modern residences are solidly sealed and deeply insulated, which is fantastic for energy efficiency, but not so great for indoor air quality.
Because newer residences don’t naturally allow in as much outside air as older homes, contaminants such as dust, pet dander and cleaning products can concentrate indoors. The consequence? Air that’s more contaminated than the outdoors, which is not good if you are dealing with allergies, asthma or are vulnerable to respiratory irritation.
Our indoor air quality professionals at B & B Heating & Cooling can help you cut through the clutter and find the best home air purifier. Just call us at 314-325-7552 and we’ll be happy to help. For now, learn more about how air purifiers work, their perks and our recommendations to help you select the right air purifier.
How Do Air Purifiers Work?
Most home air purifiers use a fan to draw in air. Then, the air passes through one or more filters to trap irritants before being recirculated.
These filters may have 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 filtering tiny particles as little as .3 microns, including dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.
An air purifier can be lightweight and used to purify a single space. Or they can be fitted to your HVAC system, providing strong filtration for your total house.
The EPA says it’s important to know that air purifiers can’t get rid of all the contaminants from your home’s air. But when used in combination with a better filter for your HVAC system, they can greatly lower the amount of indoor air pollution.
4 Pluses of an Air Purifier
Getting an air purifier for your residence can give lots of great health benefits. Here are several of them.
1. Decreases Allergy and Asthma Triggers
Air purifiers lower pollutants in your house, like some of these common triggers:
- Dust
- Pollen
- Mold
- Volatile organic compounds, like cleaners, air fresheners and personal care products
2. Lowers Other Issues Linked to Poor Indoor Air Quality
Even if you or someone in your household doesn’t have allergies or asthma, an air purifier can reduce other troubles linked to low indoor air quality. These involve:
- Scratchy throat, eyes, nose or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be difficult to pinpoint troubles related to indoor air quality, since they can be caused by lots of other illnesses. However, if you’re observing that symptoms are better after you leave your house, your indoor air quality is possibly to blame.
3. Gets Rid of Odors
Odors that hang around, like cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tricky to remove. If you struggle with eliminating heavy smells in your residence, we suggest getting an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.
4. Can Lower Your Likelihood of Being Sick
An air purifier can inactivate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your household in better health particularly during cold months. To take total advantage of this benefit, our pros suggest a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light delivers an extra layer of protection against airborne pathogens.
Air Purifiers to Skip
You’re better off without some air purifiers. Here are a few options to skip when choosing a system for your home:
- Produces ozone. Some air purifiers produce ozone, which can bother your lungs. The EPA recommends staying away from ozone air purifiers.
- Doesn’t include HEPA filters. For the best outcome, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Considered the gold standard for clean air, HEPA filters are used in most healthcare settings, including hospitals.
- Only purifies a single room. We suggest using a whole-house air purifier, which filters the air throughout your home. This style works alongside your home comfort system.
When you partner with the indoor air quality specialists at B & B Heating & Cooling, we make it easy to select the best air purifier for your home. Give us a call at 314-325-7552 to get started breathing healthier air today!