If you’re in the market for an air purifier, you could be finding that some brands are making a lot of claims. And most of those claims could feel too good to be true. So, it’s only expected that you may be thinking are air purifiers a waste of money.
They’re worthwhile, according to the EPA, since they’re a great method to better your Erie residence’s indoor air quality. Newer homes are tightly sealed and thoroughly insulated, which is excellent for energy efficiency, but not so fantastic for indoor air quality.
As modern residences don’t typically allow in as much outside air as aging houses, contaminants like dust, pet dander and cleaning products can concentrate indoors. The result? Air that’s dirtier than the outdoors, which is a problem if you are dealing with allergies, asthma or are vulnerable to respiratory irritation.
Our indoor air quality pros at Patterson & Stirling Inc can help you cut through the clutter and select the best home air purifier. Just give us a call at 814-308-0416 and we’ll be happy to help. For now, learn more about how air purifiers operate, their perks and our suggestions to help you choose the right air purifier.
How Do Air Purifiers Work?
Most home air purifiers use a fan to draw in air. Then, the air passes through one or more filters to collect irritants before being sent out again.
These filters might incorporate 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 capturing microscopic particles as little as .3 microns, like dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.
An air purifier can be lightweight and used to purify an individual room. Or they can be installed inside your HVAC system, providing strong filtration for your entire house.
The EPA says you should know that air purifiers can’t remove every contaminant from your house’s air. But when used in combination with a better filter for your HVAC system, they can significantly lower the amount of indoor air pollution.
4 Benefits of an Air Purifier
Getting an air purifier for your home can provide many good health advantages. Here are just a couple of them.
1. Lowers Allergy and Asthma Triggers
Air purifiers reduce pollutants in your house, like some of these common triggers:
- Dust
- Pollen
- Mold
- Volatile organic compounds, like cleaners, air fresheners and personal care products
2. Alleviates Other Problems Related to Poor Indoor Air Quality
Even if you or someone in your household doesn’t struggle with allergies or asthma, an air purifier can decrease other issues linked to bad indoor air quality. These entail:
- Dry throat, eyes, nose or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be difficult to identify troubles related to indoor air quality, as they can be caused by lots of other illnesses. However, if you’re observing that symptoms lessen after you leave your house, your indoor air quality is possibly causing trouble.
3. Removes Odors
Persistent odors, including cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tricky to eliminate. If you are having a hard time with removing persistent smells in your residence, our pros suggest getting an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.
4. Might Reduce Your Probability of Being Sick
An air purifier can remove some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your loved ones in good health even more so during winter months. To take 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 Purifiers to Avoid
You’re better off without certain air purifiers. Here are several styles to skip when selecting a system for your home:
- Produces ozone. Some air purifiers make ozone, which can irritate your lungs. The EPA recommends skipping ozone air purifiers.
- Doesn’t include HEPA filters. For the best results, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Considered the gold standard for healthy air, HEPA filters are used in most healthcare settings, like hospitals.
- Only purifies one room. We recommend getting a whole-house air purifier, which filters the air in every room. This style runs with your heating and cooling system.
When you partner with the indoor air quality professionals at Patterson & Stirling Inc, we make it uncomplicated to buy the best air purifier for your house. Contact us at 814-308-0416 to get started breathing healthier air now!