January 12, 2021
If you’re in the market for an air purifier, you might be finding that some manufacturers are spouting a lot of claims. And most of those claims could feel too good to be true. So, it’s only natural that you could be questioning are air purifiers a waste of money.
They’re worth it, according to the EPA, as they’re a great way to improve your Franklin & South Indy home’s indoor air quality. Newer residences are solidly sealed and thoroughly insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so great for indoor air quality.
As newer homes don’t naturally bring in as much fresh air as older homes, irritants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can build up in your home. The consequence? Air that’s more contaminated than the outdoors, which is a problem if you are dealing with allergies, asthma or are vulnerable to respiratory irritation.
Our indoor air quality professionals at Winters Heating and Cooling can help you cut through the clutter and find the best home air purifier. Just give us a call at 317-406-5382 and we’ll be happy to provide support. In the meantime, discover more about how air purifiers clean the air, their benefits and our advice to help you find the best air purifier.
How Do Air Purifiers Work?
Most home air purifiers use a fan to pull in air. Then, the air is pushed through one or more filters to catch pollutants before being recirculated.
These filters might incorporate a charcoal filter, to get rid of odors, and a HEPA, or high-efficiency particulate air, filter. A HEPA filter is at least 99.7% effective at catching tiny particles as little as .3 microns, including dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.
An air purifier can be portable and used to purify one area. Or they can be fitted to your HVAC system, giving powerful filtration for your total residence.
The EPA says you should know that air purifiers can’t eliminate all the contaminants from your home’s air. But when used in combination with an enhanced filter for your HVAC system, they can significantly reduce the amount of indoor air pollution.
4 Perks of an Air Purifier
Getting an air purifier for your residence can provide lots of great health benefits. Here are just a couple of them.
1. Decreases Allergy and Asthma Triggers
Air purifiers decrease pollutants in your house, like some of these standard triggers:
- Dust
- Pollen
- Mold
- Volatile organic compounds, including cleaners, air fresheners, and personal care products
2. Alleviates Other Problems Related to Poor Indoor Air Quality
Even if you or someone in your residence doesn’t have allergies or asthma, an air purifier can reduce other symptoms associated with poor indoor air quality. These involve:
- Itchy 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 caused by a lot of other illnesses. However, if you’re observing that you feel better after you leave your residence, your indoor air quality is possibly to blame.
3. Eliminates Odors
Odors that hang around, such as cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tricky to eliminate. If you struggle with eliminating persistent smells in your residence, our professionals advise purchasing an air purifier with charcoal or an activated carbon filter.
4. May Decrease Your Likelihood of Getting Sick
An air purifier can eliminate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your loved ones in good health, especially during cold months. To receive the total advantage of this perk, we advise a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light gives an additional layer of protection against airborne pathogens.
Air Purifiers to Skip
You’re better off without certain air purifiers. Here are a few styles to skip when picking a system for your residence:
- Creates ozone. Some air purifiers create ozone, which can irritate your lungs. The EPA advises avoiding ozone air purifiers.
- Doesn’t include HEPA filters. For the best filtration, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Known as the gold standard for clean air, HEPA filters are used in many healthcare settings, such as hospitals.
- Only purifies an individual room. We recommend installing a whole-house air purifier, which cleans the air throughout your home. This style runs alongside your heating and cooling system.
When you call the indoor air quality experts at Winters Heating and Cooling, we make it simple to buy the best air purifier for your house. Give us a call at 317-406-5382 to start breathing cleaner air now!