If you’re in the market for an air purifier, you might be finding that some brands are spouting a lot of claims. And some of those claims could appear too good to be true. So, it’s only natural that you might 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 Bartlesville home’s indoor air quality. Today’s residences are solidly sealed and deeply insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so good for indoor air quality.

As newer homes don’t normally bring in as much fresh air as aging houses, contaminants such as dust, pet dander and cleaning products can accumulate indoors. The consequence? Air that’s more contaminated than the outdoors, which is not good if you struggle with allergies, asthma or are sensitive to respiratory irritation.

Our indoor air quality professionals at Farris Heating & Air can help you cut through the clutter and find the best home air purifier. Just call us at 918-333-0376 and we’ll be happy to help. For now, learn more about how air purifiers operate, their pluses 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 draw in air. Then, the air is pushed through one or more filters to catch contaminants before being sent out again.

These filters might 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 filtering miniscule particles as little as .3 microns, such as dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.

An air purifier can be compact and used to filter an individual room. Or they can be installed inside your HVAC system, delivering strong filtration for your complete home.

The EPA says you should be aware that air purifiers can’t remove all the contaminants from your residence’s air. But when used in tandem with an improved filter for your HVAC system, they can greatly lower the concentration of indoor air pollution.

4 Pluses of an Air Purifier

Adding an air purifier to your house can deliver a lot of great health advantages. Here are several of them.

1. Reduces Allergy and Asthma Triggers

Air purifiers lower contaminants in your house, such as some of these standard triggers:

  • Dust
  • Pollen
  • Mold
  • Volatile organic compounds, including cleaners, air fresheners and personal care products

2. Reduces Other Problems Related to Poor Indoor Air Quality

Even if you or someone in your home doesn’t struggle with allergies or asthma, an air purifier can alleviate other symptoms linked to poor indoor air quality. These entail:

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

It can be hard to identify issues linked to indoor air quality, as they can be caused by many other illnesses. However, if you’re observing that you feel better after you leave home, your indoor air quality is likely causing the issue.

3. Removes Odors

Persistent odors, such as cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tough to get rid of. If you having difficulties with getting rid of strong smells in your residence, our pros recommend buying an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.

4. Might Lower Your Probability of Being Sick

An air purifier can eliminate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your loved ones in good health even more so during winter months. To take complete advantage of this benefit, our pros recommend a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light delivers an extra layer of safeguard against airborne pathogens.

Air Purifiers to Avoid

You’re better off without some air purifiers. Here are a couple of styles to avoid when picking a system for your home:

  • Creates ozone. Some air purifiers create ozone, which can irritate your lungs. The EPA advises avoiding ozone air purifiers.
  • Doesn’t have HEPA filters. For the best filtration, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Regarded as the gold standard for pure air, HEPA filters are used in the majority of healthcare settings, like hospitals.
  • Only purifies an individual room. We suggest installing a whole-house air purifier, which filters the air throughout your home. This option operates alongside your home comfort system.

When you partner with the indoor air quality professionals at Farris Heating & Air, we make it easy to choose the best air purifier for your residence. Give us a call at 918-333-0376 to begin breathing healthier air right away!