If you’re shopping for an air purifier, you may be noticing that some brands are spouting many claims. And some of those claims could appear 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 an excellent way to enhance your Buellton home’s indoor air quality. Today’s houses are tightly sealed and thoroughly insulated, which is excellent for energy efficiency, but not so fantastic for indoor air quality.
Because modern residences don’t naturally bring in as much fresh air as older residences, contaminants such as dust, pet dander and cleaning products can accumulate indoors. The result? Air that’s more contaminated than the outdoors, which is not good if you struggle with 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 find the best home air purifier. Just give us a call at 805-242-9638 and we’ll be happy to provide support. For now, learn more about how air purifiers operate, their advantages and our advice to help you select the best air purifier.
How Does an Air Purification System Improve Indoor Air Quality?
Most home air purifiers rely on a fan to pull in air. Then, the air moves through one or more filters to trap pollutants before being redistributed.
These filters can have a charcoal filter, to eliminate odors, and a HEPA, or high efficiency particulate air, filter. A HEPA filter is at least 99.7% effective at capturing miniscule particles as small as .3 microns, including dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.
An air purifier can be compact and used to filter a single area. Or they can be installed inside your HVAC system, delivering effective filtration for your total home.
The EPA says you should be aware that air purifiers can’t eliminate 100% of the contaminants from your house’s air. But when used in combination with an improved filter for your HVAC system, they can greatly reduce the amount of indoor air pollution.
4 Benefits of an Air Purifier
Installing an air purifier in your home can deliver lots of good health pluses. Here are just a few of them.
1. Reduces Allergy and Asthma Triggers
Air purifiers lower irritants in your house, including some of these common triggers:
- Dust
- Pollen
- Mold
- Volatile organic compounds, like 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 experience allergies or asthma, an air purifier can lower other troubles related to poor indoor air quality. These entail:
- Dry throat, eyes, nose or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be tricky to distinguish issues related to indoor air quality, as they can be caused by a lot of other illnesses. However, if you’re noticing that symptoms lessen after you leave home, your indoor air quality is probably causing a problem.
3. Removes Odors
Odors that hang around, such as cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tricky to remove. If you are having a hard time with getting rid of heavy smells in your residence, our professionals recommend buying an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.
4. Might Decrease Your Probability of Being Sick
An air purifier can eliminate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your loved ones healthier especially during winter months. To get full advantage of this benefit, our pros suggest a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light provides an extra layer of protection against airborne pathogens.
Air Purification Systems to Skip
You’re better off without some air purifiers. Here are a couple of features to skip when picking a system for your residence:
- Produces ozone. Some air purifiers make ozone, which can bother your lungs. The EPA advises avoiding ozone air purifiers.
- Doesn’t use 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 most healthcare settings, like hospitals.
- Only purifies one room. We recommend using a whole-house air purifier, which cleans the air in every room. This option operates in tandem with your heating and cooling system.
When you partner with the indoor air quality specialists at Allstar Heating & Air Conditioning, we make it uncomplicated to choose the best air purifier for your residence. Contact us at 805-242-9638 to get started breathing cleaner air right away!