If you’re shopping for an air purifier, you may be realizing that some kinds are producing a lot of claims. And some of those claims might feel too good to be true. So, it’s only expected that you could be questioning are air purifiers a waste of money.

They’re worth it, according to the EPA, because they’re an excellent approach to improve your Odessa home’s indoor air quality. Today’s residences are tightly sealed and thoroughly insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so fantastic for indoor air quality.

As updated homes don’t typically let in as much outside air as older houses, pollutants like dust, pet dander and cleaning products can accumulate indoors. The result? Air that’s more contaminated than the outdoors, which is a problem if you are dealing with allergies, asthma or are susceptible to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality professionals at Redhawk Heating & Air Conditioning can help you cut through the clutter and choose the best home air purifier. Just contact us at 432-237-0168 and we’ll be happy to assist you. For now, discover more about how air purifiers clean the air, their pluses and our suggestions to help you find the right air purifier.

How Does an Air Purification System Work?

Most home air purifiers use a fan to pull in air. Then, the air is pushed through one or more filters to trap pollutants before being recirculated.

These filters may 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 microscopic particles as little as .3 microns, including dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be movable and used to filter one room. Or they can be installed inside your HVAC system, giving effective filtration for your total house.

The EPA says you should be aware that air purifiers can’t eliminate every contaminant from your residence’s air. But when used along with a better filter for your HVAC system, they can greatly decrease the level of indoor air pollution.

4 Benefits of Air Purification

Installing an air purifier in your house can give many great health perks. Here are just a few of them.

1. Decreases Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers reduce 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 Symptoms Linked to Poor Indoor Air Quality

Even if you or someone in your home doesn’t struggle with allergies or asthma, an air purifier can lower other troubles associated with poor indoor air quality. These include:

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

It can be hard to distinguish symptoms associated with indoor air quality, because they can be linked to a lot 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. Gets Rid of Odors

Lingering odors, such as cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tough to remove. If you having problems with removing persistent smells in your home, we advise buying an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. Might Decrease Your Probability of Being Sick

An air purifier can remove some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your loved ones healthier even more so during cold months. To take total advantage of this plus, our pros advise a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light gives an additional layer of protection against airborne pathogens.

Air Purification Systems to Stay Away From

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

  • Produces ozone. Some air purifiers make ozone, which can bother your lungs. The EPA suggests staying away from ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t include 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 most healthcare settings, such as hospitals.
  • Only purifies a single room. We recommend using a whole-house air purifier, which filters the air across your home. This option operates in tandem with your home comfort system.

When you call the indoor air quality experts at Redhawk Heating & Air Conditioning, we make it easy to select the best air purifier for your house. Contact us at 432-237-0168 to get started breathing fresher air now!