If you’re looking for an air purifier, you may be finding that some kinds are making lots of claims. And some of those claims might feel too good to be true. So, it’s only expected that you might be questioning are air purifiers a waste of money.
They’re useful, according to the EPA, since they’re an excellent way to better your Belton house’s indoor air quality. Today’s homes are tightly sealed and deeply insulated, which is excellent for energy efficiency, but not so fantastic for indoor air quality.
Since modern residences don’t normally let in as much outside air as old homes, pollutants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can concentrate indoors. The consequence? Air that’s more polluted than the outdoors, which is a problem if you are dealing with allergies, asthma or are susceptible to respiratory irritation.
Our indoor air quality pros at Myers Furnace Company can help you cut through the clutter and choose the best home air purifier. Just give us a call at 816-249-1619 and we’ll be happy to assist you. Meanwhile, discover 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 rely on a fan to collect air. Then, the air is pushed through one or more filters to collect contaminants before being redistributed.
These filters might include 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 microscopic particles as small as .3 microns, such as 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 powerful filtration for your complete house.
The EPA says you should know that air purifiers can’t remove all the contaminants from your home’s air. But when used along with an improved filter for your HVAC system, they can greatly lower the level of indoor air pollution.
4 Perks of an Air Purifier
Adding an air purifier to your house can offer lots of good health pluses. Here are several of them.
1. Reduces Allergy and Asthma Triggers
Air purifiers reduce contaminants in your residence, such as some of these common triggers:
- Dust
- Pollen
- Mold
- Volatile organic compounds, such as cleaners, air fresheners and personal care products
2. Reduces Other Problems Linked to Poor Indoor Air Quality
Even if you or someone in your residence doesn’t experience allergies or asthma, an air purifier can reduce other symptoms related to bad indoor air quality. These involve:
- Itchy throat, eyes, nose or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be hard to identify issues linked to indoor air quality, because they can be linked to many other illnesses. However, if you’re observing that symptoms are better after you leave home, your indoor air quality is likely causing trouble.
3. Eliminates Odors
Lingering odors, such as cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tricky to eliminate. If you having problems with removing strong smells in your home, our professionals advise getting an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.
4. Can Decrease Your Chance of Becoming Sick
An air purifier can remove some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your loved ones in better health even more so during winter months. To receive complete advantage of this benefit, our pros recommend a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light delivers an additional layer of protection against airborne pathogens.
Air Purification Systems to Avoid
You’re better off without some air purifiers. Here are a couple of styles to stay away from when selecting a system for your residence:
- 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. Known as the gold standard for clean air, HEPA filters are used in the majority of healthcare settings, such as hospitals.
- Only purifies one room. We advise getting a whole-house air purifier, which filters the air across your home. This style works alongside your home comfort system.
When you work with the indoor air quality experts at Myers Furnace Company, we make it simple to select the best air purifier for your home. Give us a call at 816-249-1619 to start breathing fresher air today!