If you’re looking for an air purifier, you may be realizing that some brands are spouting lots of claims. And many of those claims might seem too good to be true. So, it’s only natural that you could be wondering are air purifiers a waste of money.
They’re useful, according to the EPA, as they’re a fantastic approach to better your Central Point home’s indoor air quality. Modern homes are tightly sealed and heavily insulated, which is fantastic for energy efficiency, but not so fantastic for indoor air quality.
Because newer houses don’t normally allow in as much fresh air as old residences, irritants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can build up in your home. The consequence? Air that’s dirtier than the outdoors, which is a problem if you are dealing with allergies, asthma or are susceptible to respiratory irritation.
Our indoor air quality specialists at Titan Heating & Air Conditioning can help you cut through the clutter and find the best home air purifier. Just give us a call at 541-286-6617 and we’ll be happy to help. In the meantime, discover more about how air purifiers work, their perks and our advice to help you choose the best 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 irritants before being sent out again.
These filters might have 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 catching miniscule particles as small as .3 microns, like dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.
An air purifier can be portable and used to treat one space. Or they can be installed inside your HVAC system, providing effective filtration for your total home.
The EPA says you should know that air purifiers can’t eliminate 100% of the contaminants from your residence’s air. But when used in combination with a better filter for your HVAC system, they can significantly reduce the concentration of indoor air pollution.
4 Perks of an Air Purifier
Adding an air purifier to your home can deliver lots of great health benefits. Here are several of them.
1. Alleviates Allergy and Asthma Triggers
Air purifiers reduce irritants in your home, including some of these common triggers:
- Dust
- Pollen
- Mold
- Volatile organic compounds, like cleaners, air fresheners and personal care products
2. Decreases Other Problems Linked 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 issues related to low indoor air quality. These include:
- Dry throat, eyes, nose or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be difficult to distinguish troubles associated with indoor air quality, because they can be linked to lots 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, such as cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be difficult to get rid of. If you having issues with getting rid of heavy smells in your house, we advise purchasing an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.
4. Might Lower Your Likelihood of Getting Sick
An air purifier can inactivate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your household in better health particularly during winter months. To get complete advantage of this benefit, our pros suggest a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light gives an added layer of safeguard against airborne pathogens.
Air Purifiers to Skip
You’re better off without some air purifiers. Here are a few styles to skip when picking a system for your residence:
- Makes ozone. Some air purifiers produce ozone, which can bother your lungs. The EPA recommends avoiding ozone air purifiers.
- Doesn’t have HEPA filters. For the best outcome, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Known as the gold standard for clean air, HEPA filters are used in many healthcare settings, such as hospitals.
- Only purifies an individual room. We suggest installing a whole-house air purifier, which purifies the air in every room. This solution runs alongside your heating and cooling system.
When you work with the indoor air quality specialists at Titan Heating & Air Conditioning, we make it easy to choose the best air purifier for your home. Reach us at 541-286-6617 to get started breathing healthier air today!