If you’re in the market for an air purifier, you may be noticing that some brands are making a lot of claims. And some of those claims could feel too good to be true. So, it’s only natural that you could be wondering are air purifiers a waste of money.
They’re worthwhile, according to the EPA, since they’re a great way to improve your Rock Hill residence’s indoor air quality. Modern homes are securely sealed and thoroughly insulated, which is excellent for energy efficiency, but not so fantastic for indoor air quality.
Because updated residences don’t typically allow in as much outside air as older houses, contaminants like dust, pet dander and cleaning products can accumulate indoors. The consequence? Air that’s more contaminated than the outdoors, which is a problem if you struggle with allergies, asthma or are vulnerable to respiratory irritation.
Our indoor air quality professionals at US Air Heating and Cooling can help you cut through the clutter and select the best home air purifier. Just give us a call at 803-220-0761 and we’ll be happy to provide support. For now, learn more about how air purifiers operate, their pluses and our suggestions to help you find the ideal air purifier.
How Do Air Purifiers Work?
Most home air purifiers have a fan to draw in air. Then, the air moves through one or more filters to catch pollutants before being sent out again.
These filters may 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 catching miniscule particles down to .3 microns, such as dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.
An air purifier can be compact and used to filter a single space. Or they can be installed inside your HVAC system, providing strong filtration for your complete home.
The EPA says it’s important to know that air purifiers can’t remove every contaminant from your home’s air. But when used in tandem with a better filter for your HVAC system, they can greatly lower the concentration of indoor air pollution.
4 Perks of an Air Purifier
Getting an air purifier for your residence can offer lots of good health perks. Here are just a few of them.
1. Lowers Allergy and Asthma Triggers
Air purifiers reduce contaminants 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 Related to Poor Indoor Air Quality
Even if you or someone in your residence doesn’t experience allergies or asthma, an air purifier can lower other troubles linked to poor indoor air quality. These include:
- Dry throat, eyes, nose or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be hard to identify troubles linked to indoor air quality, as they can be caused by a lot of other illnesses. However, if you’re observing that symptoms lessen after you leave home, your indoor air quality is likely causing trouble.
3. Gets Rid of Odors
Persistent odors, such as cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tough to eliminate. If you having issues with getting rid of heavy smells in your residence, we advise buying an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.
4. Might Reduce Your Probability of Being Sick
An air purifier can eliminate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your family in good health even more so during cold months. To get full advantage of this perk, our pros suggest a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light provides an added layer of safeguard against airborne pathogens.
Air Purifiers to Skip
You’re better off without some air purifiers. Here are several options to stay away from when choosing a system for your home:
- Produces ozone. Some air purifiers make 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. Regarded as the gold standard for pure air, HEPA filters are used in the majority of healthcare settings, including hospitals.
- Only purifies one room. We suggest using a whole-house air purifier, which purifies the air in every room. This style runs in tandem with your home comfort system.
When you work with the indoor air quality professionals at US Air Heating and Cooling, we make it uncomplicated to choose the best air purifier for your house. Contact us at 803-220-0761 to get started breathing fresher air today!