If you’re in the market for an air purifier, you could be noticing that some manufacturers are spouting many claims. And many of those claims may seem too good to be true. So, it’s only expected that you could be wondering are air purifiers a waste of money.

They’re useful, according to the EPA, since they’re an excellent method to better your Pella residence’s indoor air quality. Newer homes are solidly sealed and heavily insulated, which is excellent for energy efficiency, but not so fantastic for indoor air quality.

Since updated homes don’t typically let in as much fresh air as old homes, pollutants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can build up in your home. The consequence? Air that’s more contaminated than the outdoors, which is bad news if you have allergies, asthma or are sensitive to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality pros at Van Haaften Plumbing & Heating can help you cut through the clutter and choose the best home air purifier. Just contact us at 641-628-3621 and we’ll be happy to provide support. In the meantime, find out more about how air purifiers operate, their pluses and our recommendations to help you find the ideal air purifier.

How Does an Air Purification System Work?

Most home air purifiers have a fan to draw in air. Then, the air passes through one or more filters to trap pollutants before being recirculated.

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 filtering miniscule particles down to .3 microns, such as dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be movable and used to treat one area. Or they can be fitted to your HVAC system, providing effective filtration for your total residence.

The EPA says it’s important to know that air purifiers can’t get rid of 100% of the contaminants from your residence’s air. But when used in combination with an enhanced filter for your HVAC system, they can significantly reduce the amount of indoor air pollution.

4 Advantages of an Air Purifier

Adding an air purifier to your house can give lots of great health perks. Here are just a few of them.

1. Decreases Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers reduce contaminants in your house, such as some of these common triggers:

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

2. Lowers Other Issues Linked to Poor Indoor Air Quality

Even if you or someone in your home doesn’t experience allergies or asthma, an air purifier can alleviate other symptoms related to poor indoor air quality. These involve:

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

It can be tricky to determine issues linked to indoor air quality, because they can be triggered by many other illnesses. However, if you’re aware that symptoms lessen after you leave home, your indoor air quality is probably causing trouble.

3. Gets Rid of Odors

Lingering odors, like cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tough to get rid of. If you having problems with removing heavy smells in your house, our pros advise purchasing an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. Can Reduce Your Chance of Being Sick

An air purifier can eliminate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your loved ones in good health even more so during colder months. To get total advantage of this plus, our professionals recommend a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light gives an extra layer of defense against airborne pathogens.

Air Purifiers to Skip

You’re better off without certain air purifiers. Here are a few options to stay away from when selecting a system for your house:

  • Produces ozone. Some air purifiers produce ozone, which can aggravate your lungs. The EPA advises staying away from ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t use HEPA filters. For the best outcome, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Known as the gold standard for clean air, HEPA filters are used in most healthcare settings, like hospitals.
  • Only purifies one room. We advise using a whole-house air purifier, which cleans the air throughout your home. This option operates in tandem with your home comfort system.

When you partner with the indoor air quality professionals at Van Haaften Plumbing & Heating, we make it uncomplicated to select the best air purifier for your residence. Contact us at 641-628-3621 to begin breathing healthier air right away!