If you’re looking for an air purifier, you could be realizing that some manufacturers are making a lot of claims. And many of those claims could appear 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 way to improve your Seymour home’s indoor air quality. Today’s residences are tightly sealed and heavily insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so good for indoor air quality.
Since updated homes don’t normally allow in as much outdoor air as old residences, contaminants like dust, pet dander and cleaning products can concentrate in your home. The outcome? Air that’s dirtier than the outdoors, which is a problem if you have allergies, asthma or are vulnerable to respiratory irritation.
Our indoor air quality specialists at Diedrick's Heating and Air Conditioning can help you cut through the clutter and find the best home air purifier. Just give us a call at 920-833-7967 and we’ll be happy to assist you. Meanwhile, find out more about how air purifiers operate, their perks and our recommendations to help you find the ideal air purifier.
How Does an Air Purification System Work?
Most home air purifiers use a fan to pull in air. Then, the air moves through one or more filters to catch pollutants before being redistributed.
These filters can incorporate 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 microscopic particles down to .3 microns, like dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.
An air purifier can be compact and used to purify a single room. Or they can be installed inside your HVAC system, delivering strong filtration for your complete residence.
The EPA says you should be aware that air purifiers can’t get rid of every contaminant from your residence’s air. But when used in tandem with an improved filter for your HVAC system, they can greatly lower the concentration of indoor air pollution.
4 Advantages of an Air Purifier
Getting an air purifier for your home can deliver many great health pluses. Here are several of them.
1. Decreases Allergy and Asthma Triggers
Air purifiers lower contaminants in your residence, such as some of these standard triggers:
- Dust
- Pollen
- Mold
- Volatile organic compounds, including cleaners, air fresheners and personal care products
2. Lowers Other Problems Linked to Poor Indoor Air Quality
Even if you or someone in your home doesn’t struggle with allergies or asthma, an air purifier can reduce other issues related to low indoor air quality. These involve:
- Itchy throat, eyes, nose or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be tricky to identify symptoms linked to indoor air quality, because they can be linked to lots of other illnesses. However, if you’re observing that symptoms are better after you leave home, your indoor air quality is probably causing a problem.
3. Eliminates Odors
Persistent odors, like cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tough to get rid of. If you having issues with getting rid of strong smells in your home, we suggest getting an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.
4. May Decrease Your Chance of Being Sick
An air purifier can eliminate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your family healthier especially during winter months. To get full advantage of this plus, our pros recommend a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light gives an extra layer of safeguard 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 home:
- Makes ozone. Some air purifiers produce ozone, which can irritate your lungs. The EPA advises skipping ozone air purifiers.
- Doesn’t include HEPA filters. For the best outcome, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Known as the gold standard for pure air, HEPA filters are used in most healthcare settings, such as hospitals.
- Only purifies a single room. We advise installing a whole-house air purifier, which cleans the air across your home. This option runs in tandem with your HVAC system.
When you partner with the indoor air quality professionals at Diedrick's Heating and Air Conditioning, we make it easy to choose the best air purifier for your residence. Contact us at 920-833-7967 to get started breathing fresher air now!