If you’re shopping for an air purifier, you might be noticing that some kinds are spouting a lot of claims. And some of those claims could appear too good to be true. So, it’s only expected that you may be thinking are air purifiers a waste of money.

They’re useful, according to the EPA, as they’re an excellent way to improve your Pella home’s indoor air quality. Today’s houses are tightly sealed and deeply insulated, which is fantastic for energy efficiency, but not so fantastic for indoor air quality.

Since updated residences don’t typically allow in as much outside air as aging residences, pollutants such as dust, pet dander and cleaning products can accumulate indoors. The outcome? Air that’s more polluted than the outdoors, which is not good 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 give us a call at 641-628-3621 and we’ll be happy to help. In the meantime, learn more about how air purifiers clean the air, their advantages and our advice to help you find the best air purifier.

How Do Air Purifiers Work?

Most home air purifiers use a fan to collect air. Then, the air moves through one or more filters to trap contaminants before being recirculated.

These filters might 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 capturing microscopic particles down to .3 microns, like dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be lightweight and used to treat one space. Or they can be installed inside your HVAC system, providing powerful filtration for your complete residence.

The EPA says you should be aware that air purifiers can’t remove 100% of the contaminants from your house’s air. But when used in tandem with an enhanced filter for your HVAC system, they can considerably reduce the concentration of indoor air pollution.

4 Advantages of an Air Purifier

Getting an air purifier for your residence can give many great health perks. Here are just a couple of them.

1. Lowers Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers lower pollutants in your home, such as some of these common triggers:

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

2. Reduces Other Issues Related to Poor Indoor Air Quality

Even if you or someone in your household doesn’t struggle with allergies or asthma, an air purifier can alleviate other troubles related to low indoor air quality. These involve:

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

It can be hard to determine troubles associated with indoor air quality, because they can be caused by a lot of other illnesses. However, if you’re observing that you feel better after you leave your house, your indoor air quality is possibly causing trouble.

3. Eliminates Odors

Odors that hang around, like cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tricky to remove. If you having problems with eliminating strong smells in your residence, we recommend purchasing an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. Can Decrease Your Probability of Being Sick

An air purifier can inactivate 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 professionals recommend a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light provides an added layer of safeguard against airborne pathogens.

Air Purifiers to Skip

You’re better off without some air purifiers. Here are several options to avoid when choosing a system for your house:

  • Creates ozone. Some air purifiers make ozone, which can bother your lungs. The EPA advises skipping ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t use HEPA filters. For the best filtration, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Regarded as the gold standard for clean air, HEPA filters are used in the majority of healthcare settings, like hospitals.
  • Only purifies one room. We suggest getting a whole-house air purifier, which filters the air in every room. This style operates with your home comfort system.

When you partner with the indoor air quality professionals at Van Haaften Plumbing & Heating, we make it easy to buy the best air purifier for your house. Give us a call at 641-628-3621 to begin breathing cleaner air now!