If you’re in the market for an air purifier, you could be noticing that some kinds are spouting a lot of claims. And many of those claims might appear too good to be true. So, it’s only natural that you could be thinking are air purifiers a waste of money.
They’re worthwhile, according to the EPA, since they’re an excellent approach to improve your Houston home’s indoor air quality. Newer homes are securely sealed and deeply insulated, which is fantastic for energy efficiency, but not so excellent for indoor air quality.
Because newer homes don’t normally allow in as much outside air as aging houses, pollutants including dust, pet dander and cleaning products can concentrate in your home. The outcome? Air that’s more polluted than the outdoors, which is not good if you are dealing with allergies, asthma or are susceptible to respiratory irritation.
Our indoor air quality professionals at Air Current AC & Heat can help you cut through the clutter and select the best home air purifier. Just call us at 713-322-4318 and we’ll be happy to assist you. In the meantime, find out more about how air purifiers work, their advantages and our recommendations to help you choose the ideal air purifier.
How Do Air Purifiers Improve Indoor Air Quality?
Most home air purifiers use a fan to pull in air. Then, the air moves through one or more filters to catch irritants before being redistributed.
These filters can 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 microscopic particles down to .3 microns, such as dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.
An air purifier can be compact and used to treat one room. Or they can be added to your HVAC system, delivering effective filtration for your total residence.
The EPA says you should know that air purifiers can’t remove every contaminant from your home’s air. But when used in combination with an enhanced filter for your HVAC system, they can significantly lower the level of indoor air pollution.
4 Advantages of an Air Purifier
Getting an air purifier for your house can deliver many outstanding health pluses. Here are just a couple of them.
1. Lowers Allergy and Asthma Triggers
Air purifiers reduce pollutants in your house, like some of these common triggers:
- Dust
- Pollen
- Mold
- Volatile organic compounds, such as cleaners, air fresheners and personal care products
2. Reduces Other Problems Associated with Poor Indoor Air Quality
Even if you or someone in your household doesn’t struggle with allergies or asthma, an air purifier can reduce other issues associated with poor indoor air quality. These include:
- Dry throat, eyes, nose or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be difficult to determine symptoms associated with indoor air quality, since they can be caused by lots of other illnesses. However, if you’re observing that symptoms lessen after you leave home, your indoor air quality is probably causing trouble.
3. Gets Rid of Odors
Odors that hang around, such as cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tricky to eliminate. If you having problems with getting rid of strong smells in your house, we advise getting an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.
4. Might Lower Your Probability 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 full advantage of this plus, our professionals advise a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light gives an additional layer of defense against airborne pathogens.
Air Purification Systems to Skip
You’re better off without certain air purifiers. Here are a couple of options to skip when choosing a system for your residence:
- Makes ozone. Some air purifiers produce ozone, which can bother your lungs. The EPA suggests staying away from ozone air purifiers.
- Doesn’t have HEPA filters. For the best outcome, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Regarded as the gold standard for clean air, HEPA filters are used in most healthcare settings, like hospitals.
- Only purifies one room. We recommend getting a whole-house air purifier, which filters the air in every room. This style works in tandem with your heating and cooling system.
When you work with the indoor air quality experts at Air Current AC & Heat, we make it uncomplicated to choose the best air purifier for your home. Give us a call at 713-322-4318 to start breathing cleaner air right away!