If you’re in the market for an air purifier, you may be noticing that some kinds are making lots of claims. And some of those claims could seem too good to be true. So, it’s only expected that you could be questioning are air purifiers a waste of money.
They’re worthwhile, according to the EPA, since they’re an excellent way to better your Odessa home’s indoor air quality. Newer houses are securely sealed and deeply insulated, which is fantastic for energy efficiency, but not so good for indoor air quality.
Because newer residences don’t typically let in as much outdoor air as older houses, contaminants such as dust, pet dander and cleaning products can accumulate inside. The result? Air that’s dirtier than the outdoors, which is bad news if you have allergies, asthma or are sensitive to respiratory irritation.
Our indoor air quality pros at Redhawk Heating & Air Conditioning can help you cut through the clutter and select the best home air purifier. Just contact us at 432-237-0168 and we’ll be happy to help. Meanwhile, learn more about how air purifiers work, their advantages and our recommendations to help you choose the right 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 contaminants before being sent out again.
These filters can incorporate 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 catching microscopic particles as little as .3 microns, including dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.
An air purifier can be movable and used to treat an individual room. Or they can be installed inside your HVAC system, delivering strong filtration for your entire house.
The EPA says you should be aware that air purifiers can’t get rid of all the contaminants from your home’s air. But when used in combination with a better filter for your HVAC system, they can significantly reduce the level of indoor air pollution.
4 Perks of Air Purification
Installing an air purifier in your residence can give a lot of good health advantages. Here are just a couple of them.
1. Reduces Allergy and Asthma Triggers
Air purifiers decrease irritants in your residence, like some of these common triggers:
- Dust
- Pollen
- Mold
- Volatile organic compounds, like cleaners, air fresheners and personal care products
2. Reduces Other Issues Associated with Poor Indoor Air Quality
Even if you or someone in your household doesn’t experience allergies or asthma, an air purifier can alleviate other issues associated with poor indoor air quality. These involve:
- Dry throat, eyes, nose or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be hard to determine issues linked to indoor air quality, because they can be linked to a lot of other illnesses. However, if you’re observing that symptoms are better after you leave your residence, your indoor air quality is likely causing a problem.
3. Gets Rid of Odors
Odors that hang around, including cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be difficult to get rid of. If you having issues with getting rid of persistent smells in your home, our pros suggest buying an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.
4. Might Lower Your Probability of Becoming Sick
An air purifier can eliminate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your household healthier even more so during winter months. To take full advantage of this perk, our professionals recommend a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light delivers an added layer of safeguard against airborne pathogens.
Air Purifiers to Stay Away From
You’re better off without select air purifiers. Here are a few options to skip when picking a system for your home:
- Creates ozone. Some air purifiers make ozone, which can aggravate 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, like hospitals.
- Only purifies an individual room. We recommend installing a whole-house air purifier, which purifies the air in every room. This style operates in tandem with your heating and cooling system.
When you partner with the indoor air quality professionals at Redhawk Heating & Air Conditioning, we make it simple to select the best air purifier for your residence. Contact us at 432-237-0168 to start breathing healthier air today!
