If you’re in the market for an air purifier, you might 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 wondering are air purifiers a waste of money.

They’re worthwhile, according to the EPA, since they’re an excellent approach to better your Auburn house’s indoor air quality. Newer houses are securely sealed and deeply insulated, which is excellent for energy efficiency, but not so excellent for indoor air quality.

As updated residences don’t normally allow in as much outside air as older residences, irritants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can accumulate indoors. The outcome? Air that’s more contaminated than the outdoors, which is a problem if you are dealing with allergies, asthma or are vulnerable 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 call us at 530-885-8081 and we’ll be happy to provide support. In the meantime, discover more about how air purifiers clean the air, their perks and our suggestions to help you select the right air purifier.

How Do Air Purifiers Work?

Most home air purifiers use a fan to draw in air. Then, the air passes through one or more filters to catch pollutants before being sent out again.

These filters can incorporate 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 catching miniscule particles as little as .3 microns, including dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be lightweight and used to purify a single area. Or they can be added to your HVAC system, giving strong filtration for your entire home.

The EPA says it’s important to know that air purifiers can’t get rid of all the contaminants from your house’s air. But when used in tandem with an enhanced filter for your HVAC system, they can greatly reduce the concentration of indoor air pollution.

4 Perks of an Air Purifier

Getting an air purifier for your home can give lots of outstanding health pluses. Here are just a few of them.

1. Lowers Allergy and Asthma Triggers

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

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

2. Alleviates Other Problems Related to 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 symptoms associated with low indoor air quality. These involve:

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

It can be hard to identify issues linked to indoor air quality, as they can be caused by lots of other illnesses. However, if you’re noticing that symptoms are better after you leave your residence, your indoor air quality is probably causing a problem.

3. Removes Odors

Persistent odors, like cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tough to eliminate. If you are having a hard time with getting rid of persistent smells in your home, our professionals recommend buying an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. Might Decrease Your Likelihood of Getting Sick

An air purifier can inactivate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your household in good health even more so during winter months. To receive full advantage of this plus, our professionals advise a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light gives an additional layer of safeguard against airborne pathogens.

Air Purifiers to Stay Away From

You’re better off without select air purifiers. Here are a few features to stay away from when picking a system for your residence:

  • Creates ozone. Some air purifiers make ozone, which can irritate your lungs. The EPA advises avoiding ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t have HEPA filters. For the best filtration, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Known as the gold standard for clean air, HEPA filters are used in many healthcare settings, like hospitals.
  • Only purifies a single room. We advise using a whole-house air purifier, which purifies the air in every room. This style operates in tandem with your HVAC system.

When you partner with the indoor air quality professionals at Forster Heating, we make it simple to choose the best air purifier for your residence. Contact us at 530-885-8081 to start breathing cleaner air today!