If you’re looking for an air purifier, you may be realizing that some brands are spouting a lot of claims. And most of those claims could seem too good to be true. So, it’s only natural that you could be thinking are air purifiers a waste of money.
They’re worth it, according to the EPA, because they’re a fantastic method to enhance your Auburn house’s indoor air quality. Modern residences are securely sealed and thoroughly insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so fantastic for indoor air quality.
Since newer houses don’t typically bring in as much outside air as aging houses, pollutants like dust, pet dander and cleaning products can build up inside. The result? Air that’s more polluted than the outdoors, which is bad news if you struggle with allergies, asthma or are sensitive to respiratory irritation.
Our indoor air quality professionals at Forster Heating can help you cut through the clutter and find the best home air purifier. Just contact us at 530-885-8081 and we’ll be happy to help. For now, learn more about how air purifiers clean the air, their advantages and our advice to help you choose the right air purifier.
How Do Air Purifiers Work?
Most home air purifiers use a fan to pull in air. Then, the air is pushed through one or more filters to trap contaminants before being redistributed.
These filters may have a charcoal filter, to remove odors, and a HEPA, or high efficiency particulate air, filter. A HEPA filter is at least 99.7% effective at capturing miniscule particles down to .3 microns, including dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.
An air purifier can be compact and used to purify one space. Or they can be installed inside your HVAC system, delivering powerful filtration for your entire home.
The EPA says you should be aware that air purifiers can’t remove 100% of the contaminants from your residence’s air. But when used along with an enhanced filter for your HVAC system, they can significantly reduce the concentration of indoor air pollution.
4 Benefits of an Air Purifier
Getting an air purifier for your home can offer lots of good health perks. Here are just a few of them.
1. Alleviates Allergy and Asthma Triggers
Air purifiers reduce irritants 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. Reduces Other Symptoms Linked to Poor Indoor Air Quality
Even if you or someone in your household doesn’t struggle with allergies or asthma, an air purifier can lower other symptoms related to low indoor air quality. These include:
- Itchy throat, eyes, nose or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be hard to distinguish troubles associated with indoor air quality, because they can be linked to a lot of other illnesses. However, if you’re aware that symptoms lessen after you leave your house, your indoor air quality is likely causing a problem.
3. Gets Rid of Odors
Persistent odors, like cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tricky to eliminate. If you having difficulties with removing heavy smells in your residence, our pros recommend purchasing an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.
4. May Reduce Your Likelihood of Being Sick
An air purifier can remove some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your family in good health even more so during colder months. To get full advantage of this perk, our pros suggest a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light provides an extra layer of safeguard against airborne pathogens.
Air Purifiers to Skip
You’re better off without some air purifiers. Here are a couple of styles to stay away from when picking a system for your home:
- Makes ozone. Some air purifiers make ozone, which can aggravate your lungs. The EPA advises avoiding ozone air purifiers.
- Doesn’t have HEPA filters. For the best outcome, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Regarded as the gold standard for healthy air, HEPA filters are used in the majority of healthcare settings, such as hospitals.
- Only purifies an individual room. We suggest getting a whole-house air purifier, which purifies the air throughout your home. This style works alongside your HVAC system.
When you partner with the indoor air quality specialists at Forster Heating, we make it simple to select the best air purifier for your house. Give us a call at 530-885-8081 to begin breathing fresher air now!