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

They’re useful, according to the EPA, since they’re a fantastic approach to better your Buellton residence’s indoor air quality. Newer houses are tightly sealed and deeply insulated, which is excellent for energy efficiency, but not so good for indoor air quality.

Because updated houses don’t normally allow in as much outdoor air as old houses, irritants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can concentrate indoors. The outcome? Air that’s more polluted than the outdoors, which is not good if you have allergies, asthma or are vulnerable to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality pros at Allstar Heating & Air Conditioning can help you cut through the clutter and choose the best home air purifier. Just call us at 805-242-9638 and we’ll be happy to provide support. For now, find out more about how air purifiers work, their pluses and our suggestions to help you select the ideal air purifier.

How Do Air Purifiers Work?

Most home air purifiers rely on a fan to pull in air. Then, the air moves through one or more filters to collect irritants before being redistributed.

These filters can 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 filtering miniscule particles as little as .3 microns, like dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be movable and used to treat a single space. Or they can be installed inside your HVAC system, giving effective filtration for your total 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 combination with a better filter for your HVAC system, they can greatly reduce the amount of indoor air pollution.

4 Benefits 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. Decreases Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers lower pollutants in your residence, including some of these common triggers:

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

2. Lowers Other Problems Related to Poor Indoor Air Quality

Even if you or someone in your household doesn’t experience allergies or asthma, an air purifier can alleviate other symptoms linked to bad indoor air quality. These include:

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

It can be tricky to identify issues linked to indoor air quality, as they can be linked to a lot of other illnesses. However, if you’re noticing that symptoms lessen after you leave home, your indoor air quality is likely causing a problem.

3. Removes Odors

Odors that hang around, including cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tricky to remove. If you having issues with getting rid of persistent smells in your home, we suggest getting an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. Might Decrease Your Chance of Becoming 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 take complete advantage of this plus, our pros recommend a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light delivers an extra layer of defense against airborne pathogens.

Air Purifiers to Avoid

You’re better off without select air purifiers. Here are a few styles to avoid when selecting a system for your house:

  • Creates ozone. Some air purifiers produce ozone, which can bother your lungs. The EPA suggests staying away from ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t have HEPA filters. For the best results, 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, like hospitals.
  • Only purifies a single room. We advise installing a whole-house air purifier, which filters the air throughout your home. This style works alongside your HVAC system.

When you partner with the indoor air quality specialists at Allstar Heating & Air Conditioning, we make it simple to select the best air purifier for your home. Reach us at 805-242-9638 to start breathing healthier air now!