If you’re looking for an air purifier, you could be noticing that some kinds are making many claims. And some of those claims might feel too good to be true. So, it’s only natural that you might be thinking are air purifiers a waste of money.
They’re useful, according to the EPA, as they’re a fantastic approach to better your Bartlesville residence’s indoor air quality. Modern residences are solidly sealed and heavily insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so excellent for indoor air quality.
Since updated homes don’t normally bring in as much outside air as aging houses, irritants such as dust, pet dander and cleaning products can build up indoors. The consequence? Air that’s more polluted than the outdoors, which is bad news if you struggle with allergies, asthma or are susceptible to respiratory irritation.
Our indoor air quality professionals at Farris Heating & Air can help you cut through the clutter and choose the best home air purifier. Just give us a call at 918-333-0376 and we’ll be happy to assist you. In the meantime, discover more about how air purifiers work, their advantages and our suggestions to help you select the best air purifier.
How Do Air Purifiers Work?
Most home air purifiers rely on a fan to draw in air. Then, the air passes through one or more filters to trap irritants before being recirculated.
These filters may incorporate 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 down to .3 microns, including dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.
An air purifier can be portable and used to purify one space. Or they can be installed inside your HVAC system, giving effective filtration for your entire residence.
The EPA says it’s important to know that air purifiers can’t remove 100% of the contaminants from your residence’s air. But when used along with a better filter for your HVAC system, they can significantly lower the concentration of indoor air pollution.
4 Perks of an Air Purifier
Adding an air purifier to your residence can offer a lot of good health advantages. Here are several of them.
1. Lowers 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. Decreases Other Problems Linked to Poor Indoor Air Quality
Even if you or someone in your residence doesn’t experience allergies or asthma, an air purifier can reduce other issues linked to low indoor air quality. These involve:
- Dry throat, eyes, nose or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be difficult to distinguish issues associated with indoor air quality, since they can be caused by a lot of other illnesses. However, if you’re observing that symptoms lessen after you leave your residence, your indoor air quality is probably causing a problem.
3. Removes Odors
Lingering odors, such as cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be difficult to eliminate. If you struggle with eliminating persistent smells in your residence, our pros suggest purchasing an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.
4. Can Lower Your Probability of Being Sick
An air purifier can eliminate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your household in better health especially during winter months. To get full advantage of this benefit, we suggest a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light gives an extra layer of safeguard against airborne pathogens.
Air Purifiers to Avoid
You’re better off without select air purifiers. Here are a few features to skip when picking a system for your home:
- Creates ozone. Some air purifiers make ozone, which can bother your lungs. The EPA recommends staying away from ozone air purifiers.
- Doesn’t use HEPA filters. For the best filtration, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Regarded as the gold standard for healthy air, HEPA filters are used in many healthcare settings, such as hospitals.
- Only purifies a single room. We recommend using a whole-house air purifier, which cleans the air across your home. This style runs with your heating and cooling system.
When you call the indoor air quality professionals at Farris Heating & Air, we make it easy to select the best air purifier for your home. Reach us at 918-333-0376 to get started breathing fresher air now!