If you’re in the market for an air purifier, you could be finding that some brands are producing a lot of claims. And most of those claims might appear too good to be true. So, it’s only expected that you might be wondering are air purifiers a waste of money.

They’re worth it, according to the EPA, as they’re an excellent approach to improve your Erie house’s indoor air quality. Today’s houses are solidly sealed and thoroughly insulated, which is fantastic for energy efficiency, but not so fantastic for indoor air quality.

As modern homes don’t naturally allow in as much outdoor air as older houses, irritants like dust, pet dander and cleaning products can build up inside. The consequence? Air that’s more contaminated than the outdoors, which is bad news if you are dealing with allergies, asthma or are susceptible to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality professionals at Patterson & Stirling can help you cut through the clutter and choose the best home air purifier. Just call us at 814-308-0416 and we’ll be happy to help. In the meantime, find out more about how air purifiers work, their perks and our suggestions to help you select the ideal air purifier.

How Do Air Purifiers Work?

Most home air purifiers rely on a fan to collect air. Then, the air passes through one or more filters to trap irritants before being redistributed.

These filters may include 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 tiny particles down to .3 microns, including dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be compact and used to treat an individual area. Or they can be fitted to your HVAC system, delivering strong filtration for your total house.

The EPA says you should know that air purifiers can’t eliminate every contaminant from your residence’s air. But when used in combination with a better filter for your HVAC system, they can significantly reduce the concentration of indoor air pollution.

4 Benefits of an Air Purifier

Getting an air purifier for your house can deliver a lot of great health advantages. Here are just a couple of them.

1. Decreases Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers reduce contaminants in your house, including some of these typical triggers:

  • Dust
  • Pollen
  • Mold
  • Volatile organic compounds, such as cleaners, air fresheners and personal care products

2. Reduces Other Problems Associated with Poor Indoor Air Quality

Even if you or someone in your residence doesn’t experience allergies or asthma, an air purifier can lower other symptoms linked to bad indoor air quality. These involve:

  • Dry throat, eyes, nose or skin
  • Headaches
  • Sneezing and coughing
  • Fatigue
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea

It can be hard to distinguish symptoms associated with indoor air quality, because they can be linked to many other illnesses. However, if you’re observing that you feel better after you leave your house, your indoor air quality is likely causing the issue.

3. Gets Rid of Odors

Persistent odors, including cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tricky to get rid of. If you having difficulties with eliminating persistent smells in your residence, our professionals advise buying an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. Can Reduce Your Chance of Becoming Sick

An air purifier can eliminate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your family healthier especially during colder months. To take total advantage of this perk, our pros advise a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light delivers an added layer of defense against airborne pathogens.

Air Purifiers to Stay Away From

You’re better off without certain air purifiers. Here are several features to avoid when picking a system for your residence:

  • Produces ozone. Some air purifiers make ozone, which can irritate your lungs. The EPA advises skipping ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t include HEPA filters. For the best results, 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, like hospitals.
  • Only purifies an individual room. We advise using a whole-house air purifier, which filters the air in every room. This style operates alongside your HVAC system.

When you call the indoor air quality professionals at Patterson & Stirling, we make it simple to buy the best air purifier for your residence. Give us a call at 814-308-0416 to start breathing healthier air now!