If you’re shopping for an air purifier, you could be realizing that some kinds are spouting a lot of claims. And most of those claims may seem too good to be true. So, it’s only expected that you may be questioning are air purifiers a waste of money.
They’re useful, according to the EPA, since they’re a great approach to enhance your Pella home’s indoor air quality. Modern residences are tightly sealed and thoroughly insulated, which is fantastic for energy efficiency, but not so fantastic for indoor air quality.
Because newer homes don’t normally allow in as much outdoor air as aging homes, irritants like dust, pet dander and cleaning products can concentrate inside. The result? Air that’s more polluted than the outdoors, which is not good if you struggle with allergies, asthma or are vulnerable to respiratory irritation.
Our indoor air quality pros at Van Haaften Plumbing & Heating can help you cut through the clutter and select the best home air purifier. Just contact us at 641-628-3621 and we’ll be happy to help. In the meantime, discover more about how air purifiers work, their benefits 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 catch pollutants before being recirculated.
These filters may 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 filtering tiny particles as little as .3 microns, such as dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.
An air purifier can be portable and used to filter one space. Or they can be installed inside your HVAC system, giving strong filtration for your total residence.
The EPA says you should be aware that air purifiers can’t remove every contaminant from your residence’s air. But when used along with a better filter for your HVAC system, they can considerably reduce the level of indoor air pollution.
4 Pluses of an Air Purifier
Adding an air purifier to your house can deliver a lot of outstanding health perks. Here are just a couple of them.
1. Alleviates 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. Alleviates Other Symptoms Associated with Poor Indoor Air Quality
Even if you or someone in your residence doesn’t struggle with allergies or asthma, an air purifier can alleviate other issues associated with low indoor air quality. These involve:
- Itchy throat, eyes, nose or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be tricky to pinpoint issues related to indoor air quality, since they can be triggered by a lot of other illnesses. However, if you’re observing that symptoms are better after you leave your house, your indoor air quality is possibly causing the issue.
3. Gets Rid of Odors
Lingering odors, such as cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tough to get rid of. If you having problems with getting rid of heavy smells in your home, our professionals advise purchasing an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.
4. Might Lower Your Chance of Being Sick
An air purifier can remove some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your household in good health particularly during winter months. To take complete advantage of this plus, our professionals suggest a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light gives an added layer of protection against airborne pathogens.
Air Purifiers to Avoid
You’re better off without select air purifiers. Here are a couple of features to avoid when choosing a system for your residence:
- Creates ozone. Some air purifiers make ozone, which can bother your lungs. The EPA recommends staying away from ozone air purifiers.
- Doesn’t include HEPA filters. For the best outcome, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Considered the gold standard for pure air, HEPA filters are used in the majority of healthcare settings, such as hospitals.
- Only purifies one room. We advise getting a whole-house air purifier, which cleans the air throughout your home. This option operates alongside your heating and cooling system.
When you call the indoor air quality specialists at Van Haaften Plumbing & Heating, we make it uncomplicated to choose the best air purifier for your house. Give us a call at 641-628-3621 to start breathing healthier air today!