If you’re in the market for an air purifier, you could be noticing that some brands are producing many claims. And most of those claims may appear too good to be true. So, it’s only typical that you may be thinking are air purifiers a waste of money.
They’re worth it, according to the EPA, since they’re a great method to better your Lincoln home’s indoor air quality. Today’s homes are tightly sealed and deeply insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so excellent for indoor air quality.
Since modern houses don’t typically allow in as much fresh air as aging homes, pollutants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can build up indoors. The outcome? Air that’s more polluted than the outdoors, which is a problem if you have allergies, asthma or are sensitive to respiratory irritation.
Our indoor air quality pros at AW Heating & Air Conditioning can help you cut through the clutter and find the best home air purifier. Just call us at 402-438-7992 and we’ll be happy to assist you. Meanwhile, find out more about how air purifiers clean the air, their advantages and our recommendations to help you select the right air purifier.
How Do Air Purifiers Work?
Most home air purifiers have a fan to pull in air. Then, the air passes through one or more filters to catch irritants before being redistributed.
These filters can 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 capturing microscopic particles as small as .3 microns, like dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.
An air purifier can be lightweight and used to filter an individual space. Or they can be installed inside your HVAC system, giving powerful filtration for your complete home.
The EPA says it’s important to know that air purifiers can’t get rid of every contaminant from your home’s air. But when used in combination with a better filter for your HVAC system, they can greatly decrease the level of indoor air pollution.
4 Advantages of an Air Purifier
Adding an air purifier to your residence can deliver lots of great health perks. Here are just a couple of them.
1. Decreases Allergy and Asthma Triggers
Air purifiers reduce contaminants in your residence, such as some of these standard triggers:
- Dust
- Pollen
- Mold
- Volatile organic compounds, including cleaners, air fresheners and personal care products
2. Reduces 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 lower other issues associated with bad indoor air quality. These involve:
- Scratchy throat, eyes, nose or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be difficult to distinguish symptoms linked to indoor air quality, because they can be caused by a lot of other illnesses. However, if you’re observing that symptoms lessen after you leave your house, your indoor air quality is likely to blame.
3. Removes Odors
Odors that hang around, such as cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tough to remove. If you are having a hard time with eliminating heavy smells in your house, we advise getting an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.
4. Might Reduce Your Probability of Becoming Sick
An air purifier can eliminate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your household healthier especially during colder months. To receive complete advantage of this plus, we suggest a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light delivers an extra layer of safeguard against airborne pathogens.
Air Purifiers to Skip
You’re better off without some air purifiers. Here are several options to skip when choosing a system for your house:
- Produces ozone. Some air purifiers produce ozone, which can irritate your lungs. The EPA suggests avoiding ozone air purifiers.
- Doesn’t have HEPA filters. For the best filtration, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Known as the gold standard for healthy air, HEPA filters are used in the majority of healthcare settings, like hospitals.
- Only purifies one room. We advise getting a whole-house air purifier, which cleans the air across your home. This option works alongside your home comfort system.
When you work with the indoor air quality professionals at AW Heating & Air Conditioning, we make it easy to choose the best air purifier for your home. Reach us at 402-438-7992 to begin breathing cleaner air now!