If you’re in the market for an air purifier, you may be realizing that some manufacturers are making a lot of claims. And many of those claims might seem too good to be true. So, it’s only expected that you might be wondering are air purifiers a waste of money.

They’re worth it, according to the EPA, as they’re a fantastic method to improve your Florissant house’s indoor air quality. Today’s residences are securely sealed and thoroughly insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so good for indoor air quality.

Because modern houses don’t typically let in as much fresh air as older houses, pollutants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can concentrate in your home. The result? Air that’s more polluted than the outdoors, which is not good if you have allergies, asthma or are sensitive to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality pros at B & B Heating & Cooling can help you cut through the clutter and find the best home air purifier. Just contact us at 314-325-7552 and we’ll be happy to help. For now, learn more about how air purifiers clean the air, their pluses and our suggestions to help you find 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 irritants before being redistributed.

These filters might include 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 small as .3 microns, including dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be compact and used to purify an individual room. Or they can be added to your HVAC system, delivering powerful filtration for your entire residence.

The EPA says it’s important to know that air purifiers can’t remove every contaminant from your residence’s air. But when used in tandem with an enhanced filter for your HVAC system, they can greatly decrease the level of indoor air pollution.

4 Pluses of an Air Purifier

Getting an air purifier for your residence can deliver lots of outstanding health pluses. Here are several of them.

1. Reduces Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers reduce irritants in your residence, such as some of these common triggers:

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

2. Alleviates Other Problems Associated with Poor Indoor Air Quality

Even if you or someone in your home doesn’t experience allergies or asthma, an air purifier can reduce other issues linked to low indoor air quality. These involve:

  • Scratchy 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 caused by many other illnesses. However, if you’re aware that you feel better after you leave your house, your indoor air quality is probably causing the issue.

3. Gets Rid of Odors

Lingering odors, such as cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tricky to remove. If you having issues with eliminating persistent smells in your residence, we recommend buying an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. May Reduce Your Chance of Being Sick

An air purifier can inactivate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your loved ones in good health particularly during cold months. To take total advantage of this benefit, our professionals recommend a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light delivers an extra layer of safeguard against airborne pathogens.

Air Purifiers to Avoid

You’re better off without certain air purifiers. Here are a couple of styles to avoid when picking a system for your house:

  • Makes ozone. Some air purifiers create ozone, which can aggravate your lungs. The EPA advises skipping 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 healthy air, HEPA filters are used in many healthcare settings, like hospitals.
  • Only purifies an individual room. We recommend installing a whole-house air purifier, which purifies the air throughout your home. This solution works in tandem with your HVAC system.

When you call the indoor air quality professionals at B & B Heating & Cooling, we make it uncomplicated to buy the best air purifier for your home. Contact us at 314-325-7552 to start breathing healthier air today!