If you’re looking for an air purifier, you could be finding that some brands are producing many claims. And some of those claims might seem too good to be true. So, it’s only typical that you may be questioning are air purifiers a waste of money.
They’re worthwhile, according to the EPA, because they’re an excellent method to improve your McHenry residence’s indoor air quality. Modern residences are tightly sealed and deeply insulated, which is fantastic for energy efficiency, but not so good for indoor air quality.
Since modern residences don’t naturally let in as much fresh air as older homes, pollutants like dust, pet dander and cleaning products can concentrate in your home. The consequence? Air that’s more contaminated than the outdoors, which is a problem if you have allergies, asthma or are susceptible to respiratory irritation.
Our indoor air quality pros at Jett's Heating & Air Inc. can help you cut through the clutter and choose the best home air purifier. Just contact us at 815-410-1128 and we’ll be happy to assist you. In the meantime, discover more about how air purifiers operate, their pluses and our suggestions to help you choose the right air purifier.
How Do Air Purifiers Work?
Most home air purifiers have a fan to draw in air. Then, the air passes through one or more filters to catch irritants before being recirculated.
These filters can 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 catching microscopic particles as little as .3 microns, like dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.
An air purifier can be lightweight and used to filter an individual area. Or they can be added to your HVAC system, providing powerful filtration for your entire residence.
The EPA says you should be aware that air purifiers can’t get rid of all the contaminants from your home’s air. But when used in combination with an enhanced filter for your HVAC system, they can considerably decrease the amount of indoor air pollution.
4 Pluses of an Air Purifier
Installing an air purifier in your home can deliver a lot of outstanding health advantages. Here are just a few of them.
1. Reduces Allergy and Asthma Triggers
Air purifiers decrease irritants in your home, 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 struggle with allergies or asthma, an air purifier can decrease other troubles associated with bad indoor air quality. These entail:
- Itchy throat, eyes, nose or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be difficult to pinpoint troubles related to indoor air quality, as they can be linked to a lot of other illnesses. However, if you’re aware that you feel better after you leave your residence, your indoor air quality is likely to blame.
3. Removes Odors
Persistent odors, like cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tricky to remove. If you having difficulties with getting rid of heavy smells in your house, we suggest purchasing an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.
4. Can Lower Your Probability of Becoming Sick
An air purifier can inactivate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your household healthier even more so during winter months. To receive complete advantage of this perk, we recommend a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light gives an additional layer of safeguard against airborne pathogens.
Air Purifiers to Avoid
You’re better off without some air purifiers. Here are a few options to avoid when picking a system for your residence:
- Makes ozone. Some air purifiers create ozone, which can aggravate 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. Regarded as the gold standard for pure air, HEPA filters are used in most healthcare settings, like hospitals.
- Only purifies a single room. We suggest installing a whole-house air purifier, which filters the air across your home. This option operates in tandem with your heating and cooling system.
When you work with the indoor air quality experts at Jett's Heating & Air Inc., we make it easy to select the best air purifier for your house. Give us a call at 815-410-1128 to start breathing cleaner air right away!