If you’re shopping for an air purifier, you might be realizing that some kinds are making lots of claims. And many of those claims might feel 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 fantastic approach to improve your Columbus residence’s indoor air quality. Newer homes are tightly sealed and deeply insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so fantastic for indoor air quality.
Since modern homes don’t naturally bring in as much outside 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 not good if you are dealing with allergies, asthma or are sensitive to respiratory irritation.
Our indoor air quality pros at Classic Air can help you cut through the clutter and choose the best home air purifier. Just give us a call at 614-210-3041 and we’ll be happy to provide support. In the meantime, learn more about how air purifiers operate, their advantages and our recommendations to help you choose the ideal air purifier.
How Does an Air Purification System Work?
Most home air purifiers rely on a fan to draw in air. Then, the air moves through one or more filters to catch irritants before being recirculated.
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, like dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.
An air purifier can be lightweight and used to filter a single area. Or they can be installed inside your HVAC system, providing effective filtration for your complete house.
The EPA says it’s important to know that air purifiers can’t eliminate all the contaminants from your residence’s air. But when used in tandem with a better filter for your HVAC system, they can significantly reduce the level of indoor air pollution.
4 Benefits of an Air Purifier
Getting an air purifier for your residence can deliver many great health perks. Here are just a few of them.
1. Lowers Allergy and Asthma Triggers
Air purifiers lower contaminants in your residence, like some of these typical triggers:
- Dust
- Pollen
- Mold
- Volatile organic compounds, such as 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 reduce other symptoms related to bad indoor air quality. These involve:
- Dry throat, eyes, nose or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be tricky to determine troubles related to indoor air quality, since they can be triggered by a lot of other illnesses. However, if you’re noticing that you feel better after you leave home, your indoor air quality is likely causing trouble.
3. Gets Rid of Odors
Odors that hang around, including cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be difficult to get rid of. If you having issues with getting rid of heavy smells in your home, we suggest buying an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.
4. Might Decrease Your Chance of Being Sick
An air purifier can inactivate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your loved ones in good health even more so during winter months. To receive total advantage of this plus, our professionals recommend a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light delivers an additional layer of defense against airborne pathogens.
Air Purification Systems to Stay Away From
You’re better off without certain air purifiers. Here are a couple of options to stay away from when choosing a system for your residence:
- Creates ozone. Some air purifiers make ozone, which can irritate your lungs. The EPA suggests avoiding ozone air purifiers.
- Doesn’t include HEPA filters. For the best filtration, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Considered the gold standard for pure air, HEPA filters are used in many healthcare settings, like hospitals.
- Only purifies a single room. We recommend using a whole-house air purifier, which cleans the air across your home. This option operates alongside your HVAC system.
When you partner with the indoor air quality specialists at Classic Air, we make it simple to select the best air purifier for your residence. Contact us at 614-210-3041 to start breathing healthier air today!