If you’re shopping for an air purifier, you may be noticing that some manufacturers are making a lot of claims. And some of those claims could feel too good to be true. So, it’s only natural that you might be questioning are air purifiers a waste of money.
They’re useful, according to the EPA, because they’re an excellent method to better your Wharton house’s indoor air quality. Modern houses are solidly sealed and deeply insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so fantastic for indoor air quality.
Because newer homes don’t typically bring in as much outside air as older residences, irritants like dust, pet dander and cleaning products can accumulate inside. The result? Air that’s dirtier than the outdoors, which is a problem if you have allergies, asthma or are sensitive to respiratory irritation.
Our indoor air quality pros at Faust Air Conditioning and Heating can help you cut through the clutter and select the best home air purifier. Just contact us at 979-323-6130 and we’ll be happy to help. Meanwhile, find out more about how air purifiers operate, their benefits and our advice to help you choose the ideal air purifier.
How Do Air Purifiers Work?
Most home air purifiers rely on a fan to draw in air. Then, the air is pushed through one or more filters to collect pollutants before being redistributed.
These filters may 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, including dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.
An air purifier can be movable and used to filter an individual space. Or they can be installed inside your HVAC system, providing strong filtration for your complete house.
The EPA says you should be aware that air purifiers can’t remove all the contaminants from your residence’s air. But when used along with an improved filter for your HVAC system, they can significantly reduce the level of indoor air pollution.
4 Advantages of an Air Purifier
Adding an air purifier to your house can give a lot of good health perks. Here are several of them.
1. Alleviates Allergy and Asthma Triggers
Air purifiers reduce pollutants in your house, like some of these typical triggers:
- Dust
- Pollen
- Mold
- Volatile organic compounds, such as cleaners, air fresheners and personal care products
2. Decreases Other Symptoms Linked to Poor Indoor Air Quality
Even if you or someone in your household doesn’t have allergies or asthma, an air purifier can alleviate other issues related to poor indoor air quality. These entail:
- Scratchy throat, eyes, nose or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be hard to identify issues associated with indoor air quality, as they can be linked to lots of other illnesses. However, if you’re observing that you feel better after you leave your residence, your indoor air quality is probably to blame.
3. Eliminates Odors
Persistent odors, like cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tricky to remove. If you having problems with removing persistent smells in your home, we suggest buying an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.
4. Can Lower Your Probability of Being Sick
An air purifier can eliminate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your household healthier particularly during colder months. To get total advantage of this plus, we advise a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light gives an extra layer of protection against airborne pathogens.
Air Purifiers to Stay Away From
You’re better off without certain air purifiers. Here are a few styles to skip when picking a system for your home:
- Makes ozone. Some air purifiers make ozone, which can bother your lungs. The EPA recommends avoiding ozone air purifiers.
- Doesn’t have HEPA filters. For the best results, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Considered the gold standard for clean air, HEPA filters are used in most healthcare settings, like hospitals.
- Only purifies an individual room. We advise installing a whole-house air purifier, which cleans the air across your home. This style operates in tandem with your heating and cooling system.
When you work with the indoor air quality experts at Faust Air Conditioning and Heating, we make it easy to select the best air purifier for your house. Contact us at 979-323-6130 to start breathing cleaner air now!